Earlene C. Abel

Earlene C. Abel, 87, of Jonesboro, died Monday, October 6, 2014, at Lexington Place Nursing Center where she had resided for the past 3 weeks.

Born in Una, Mississippi, Earlene moved to Helena when she was 13 and lived most of her life in West Helena before moving to Monette in 2011. She was retired from the City Clerks Office in West Helena and was a member of the West Helena United Methodist Church.

Earlene was preceded in death by her husband, David R. "Bobby" Abel, Jr., her parents: William and Rose Ella Awtry Cantrell; 2 brothers: Bill Cantrell and Harold Cantrell; 4 sisters: Nina Porter, Mary Elizabeth Johnston, Ella Louise Ruff and Thelma Dee; and a great granddaughter, Alexis Renee Abel.

Survivors include 1 son, Robert (Cynthia) Abel of Jonesboro;
1 daughter, Ann (Bobby) Gassaway of Horn Lake, Mississippi;
1 brother, Guinn (Bettye) Cantrell, Sr. of Bella Vista;
3 grandchildren: David R. (Crystal) of Jacksonville, and Rachel Abel and Shelby (Zach) Moran, all of Jonesboro; and
5 great grandchildren.

Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery in Helena with Rev. Donald Lewert officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

There will be no visitation.