Elli McKellips

Elli K. Heinrich Beaumont McKellips was born in Freeport, Illinois on May 14, 1933 to the late Otto A. G. Heinrich and Karoline Bingert Heinrich. She passed away on May 27, 2009 after a long battle with non-smoker's lung cancer. After moving to Little Rock with her grandparents in 1947, she attended Pulaski Heights Junior High School and graduated from Little Rock High School in 1951. While in high school, Elli played the string bass in the concert band and carried a clarinet in the marching band to "round out the marching 100." She would often ask Mr. Lape for a reed but he would always say, "Sorry, but I don't want any unexpected tweeks." From 1943 through 1951, Elli studied and played classical violin.
After graduation, she married William E. Beaumont and was a stay at home mom raising the four children of their marriage. Elli and Lawrence married in 1989 and this increased her family by three adult children and their families.
During the early 1970's, Elli worked for the Secretary of State, Kelly Bryant, as a Capitol tour guide. She worked in the Arkansas House of Representatives as a file clerk for five terms and in the Arkansas Senate for one term. Her work experience also included being an admission/discharge counselor with UAMS, a cashier discharge counselor at the UAMS Metabolic Management Clinic and a cashier at the former Harvest Foods Pharmacy on Highway 10.
Elli joined Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in 1968 and was active in the Dietz Dialogue Sunday School Class, Older Adults Council, Primetimers and Friends, the Board of Stewards, Cancer Friends and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir which was a great joy in her life. She also volunteered at St. Vincent Hospital in the outpatient care center and was a member of Esther Chapter 217 of the Eastern Star.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence F. McKellips, Sr. and the children of their combined families, W. E. Beaumont III (Glenda), Mary Elizabeth Morton (Harry), Karoline Ann Rook (David), Suzanna Marie Rook (Phillip), Betty Mae McKellips Penrod (John), Judy Carol McKellips Smith (Marvin), and Lawrence F. McKellips, Jr. (Virginia); fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Elli's family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Marianne Harrington and Dr. Susan Santa Cruz and their staffs for their many years of loving care.
Visitation will be Friday, May 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), Little Rock. Services will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock on Saturday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m., officiated by Rev. Vic Nixon and Dr. Jeffrey Hampton, followed by interment at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Elli's grandsons, Otto Stuart Beaumont, Jonathan Ray Morton, Phillip Lloyd Rook, Troy Wayne Rook, Donnie Fulmer, Lance McKellips, Scott Penrod and Jeremy Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be the Dietz Dialogue Sunday School Class.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Music Ministry or the Broadcast Ministry, or to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Visit Elli's online guestbook at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.