Juanita Grier

Juanita (Nita) Terry Grier, 91, of Okolona passed away July 29, 2008. Nita was born November 15, 1916, to Walter and Carrie Terry. She was a lifelong member of the Trinity Methodist Church of Okolona. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Roy Grier. Nita and Roy owned and operated a farm near Okolona for many years after the
Great Depression and World War ll. They both maintained an enduring interest in the education of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Nita was a lifelong homemaker, well-known by everyone for her gentle disposition. She was an avid gardener. She was a remarkable cook; her family will always remember those fabulous pot roasts with all the garden trimmings followed by the most decadent desserts ever made. The desserts were always devoured anyway, regardless of the consequences.

Nita was an accomplished quilt and clothing designer and seamstress. She had a flair for needlepoint creations, most of which adorn the homes of her children and grandchildren. She loved to read-almost anything-novels, cookbooks, magazines, and most of all, the daily papers through which she maintained an acute awareness of the political goings-on in the world. She worked the daily crossword puzzle and the cryptoquote until her admission to the in-patient hospice center at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs.

Nita was from a large family. She was preceded in death by brothers Clarence Terry, Olen Terry, Gilford Terry, and Hallie Terry and by sisters Callie Williams Pruitt and Jessie Washburn. She is survived by sisters Coda Burton of Okolona, AR, and Lucille Cox of Houston, TX. Nita is also survived by her four children and their spouses: Paul Grier and his wife Susan of Little Rock, AR, Joe Grier and his wife Gloria of Georgetown, TX, Elaine (Lanie) Nash and her husband Bill of Sparkman, AR, and Roynelle Gober and her husband Jim of Prescott, AR. Grandchildren survivors are Holly Grier Sexton and her husband Mike of Augusta, GA, Brad Grier and his wife Mara of San Antonio, TX, Jeff Gober (on duty in Iraq) and his wife Karla of Prescott, AR, and Rick Gober of Prescott. Great grandchildren are Jeremy Walleck, Skyler and Bailey Sexton, and Kaylei and Peyton Gober.

Nita is also survived by her nieces and nephews and many friends and neighbors of the Trinity and Okolona communities.

Visitation will be at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home on Friday, August 1, 2008, 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be at Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 2, 2008. Burial will be at Dobyville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Trinity Methodist Church of Okolona or to the Dobyville Cemetery of Okolona.