Mary Ellen Rankin

Mary Ellen Rankin, age 76 of Fayetteville, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, the 19th of December 2018 at the Earlene Howard Hospice House in Springdale, Arkansas following challenges with multiple ongoing health conditions. She was born in Newton County, Arkansas and was a 1961 graduate of Springdale High School, after transferring from Oark High School, where she was the team’s star basketball player. On June 23rd, 1962, she excitedly married Wilbur Maurice Rankin, the “boy next door” in Springdale, Arkansas at Harmon United Methodist Church. Together they had two children, a son, Raymond Maurice Rankin of Columbia, Maryland and a daughter, Nancy Ellen Boyd of Apex, North Carolina. Mary loved working with people and enjoyed a career in real estate when her children were young then later became a Retail Department Manager for Montgomery Ward in Annapolis, Maryland until retiring in 1997 after more than 20 years of service. Mary had many hobbies and talents that involved friends and family. She was a wonderful Southern cook, had an avid passion and talent for gardening, enjoyed square dancing and motor home camping with her husband. She loved their dogs over the years and took great joy in sewing clothes for her granddaughters and listening to all of her grandchildren’s latests adventures on the phone and during visits. She enjoyed socializing with friends over coffee or a good meal and tried to never miss cheering on the Razorbacks when basketball or football game was on TV or the radio. She is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Wilbur Maurice Rankin; son, Raymond (Susan Bowen) Rankin; daughter, Nancy (Arthur) Boyd; grandchildren, Leslie Rankin, Virginia Rankin, Elisabeth “Ela” Boyd, Logan Boyd; sisters, Susie Johnson and Ruby (Eugene) Cline. She was preceded in death by her parents, Homer (Icie) Case; sister, Betty (Bob) Clements; brother-in-law, Argus Johnson and nephew, Hunter Cline. Mary will also be remembered by the four nephews, one niece and numerous church family and friends who will miss her. The family will greet friends and family on Thursday, December 27, 2018, from 5pm to 7pm at the Sisco Funeral Chapel, 705 W Meadow Ave, Springdale, Arkansas 72764 to reminisce, grieve, support each other and share “Mary stories”. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 2 pm at Central United Methodist Church, 6 W Dickson Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Special thanks are extended to Circle of Life Hospice and the Earlene Howard Hospice House staff for their care and compassion that made Mary’s final days as comfortable as possible. We are also grateful for the extra attention and sensitivity they showed toward my Dad during this incredibly difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church memorial fund, 6 West Dickson Street Fayetteville, AR 72701, https://centraltolife.com/give/ or Maurice & Mary Rankin Endowed Scholarship Fund at John Brown University, https://johnbrownuniversity.givingfuel.com/jbu-online-giving-page?r=%2Fgiveonline%2F Other Ways To Give: By Phone: Call 1-479-524-7492 (Monday - Friday between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CST) By Mail: John Brown University, Office of University Advancement, 2000 West University Street, Siloam Springs, AR 72761. Live Streaming of the Funeral Service will be available for viewing on the Central United Methodist Church Website. Click this link to view live: https://centraltolife.com/live/

Mary Ellen Rankin

January 25, 1942 - December 19, 2018