Eloise Nethery

Eloise Digby Nethery, a long-time resident of Arkadelphia, died on July 24, 2008. She was 92 years old and living in Southwest Virginia in an assisted living facility.

Mae Eloise Digby was born to Celeste and Charlie Digby in Bethlehem on April 11, 1916. The family moved into Arkadelphia where Eloise completed Arkadelphia High School prior to attending Beauty School in Little Rock. She worked as a beautician for most of her life.

Eloise married Dewey Nethery of Humboldt, TN, in 1937. They lived in Okolona where Dewey was a rural mail carrier. Both were active in the Methodist Church in Okolona where Eloise taught Sunday School. After moving to Arkadelphia they became very active and faithful members of the First Methodist Church. Eloise was an active part of the Susanna Wesleyan Circle.

Besides running her beauty shop, Eloise found time for quilting and completed many beautiful and unusual quilts during her life. She was also accomplished at crochet. Almost to the end of her life, Eloise loved to play cards and was a formidable opponent.

After her husband Dewey's retirement, they traveled extensively around the US in a travel trailer. With the addition of cruises, they were able to visit the capitols of Hawaii and Alaska, completing their goal of visiting each of the 50 State Capitols of the United States. Additionally, they spent several winters in their mobile home in McAllen, Texas, often touring the sights of Old Mexico. Eloise and Dewey lived for a short time in Hot Springs on Lake Hamilton where they were quite active in the Oaklawn Methodist Church.

Eloise moved to Dallas, Texas, after Dewey's death in 1988 in order to be near her two grandsons, Kevin and Steven, as well as her son. David Lee Nethery, and his wife, Diane Downey. Nevertheless, she continued to travel, going across Canada by train and touring most of its major cities with her daughter and son-in-law. She moved to Virginia in 2004 to be near her daughter, Mary Janice, and her husband, Will Hockersmith, at Smith Mountain Lake. There she was able to enjoy boating on the lake and visiting her grand-animals until she was unable to leave her living facility. Eloise is survived by her daughter, Dr. Mary Hockersmith of Moneta, Virginia and her son, David Lee Nethery, of Dallas, Texas, along with their respective spouses and two grandchildren, Kevin Nethery and Steven Nethery, also of Dallas.

There is to be a Memorial Service for Eloise on October 4, 11:00 am, at the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend.