Dorothy LaVelle Craft Ellis, age 90, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, formerly of McKinney, Texas, entered Heaven Saturday, December 21, 2013. She was born in Nevada, Texas on July 4, 1923. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Fort Smith and a former longtime, active member of First Christian Church in McKinney.
She was preceded in death by her husband JD Ellis, her parents, Walter Thomas and Rebecca Helen Craft; sister Alma Lula Craft Boyce; and brothers, Lemmie, Marvin, Lois Melvin and Cecil Raymond.
Dorothy LaVelle is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sherrie and Phillip McDonald of Fort Smith, Arkansas; her daughter Cindy and son-in-law Barry Parrish of McKinney, Texas; son, Jack Ellis of Woodland, California; grandson and wife, Michael and Stephanie Simants of Edmond, Oklahoma; her grandson and wife Christofer and Kelly Simants of Frisco, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Emily and Caleb Simants of Edmond, Oklahoma and Carson Simants of Frisco, Texas; beloved “grand dog “ Angel; and beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 27th at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during a visitation being held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday evening at the funeral home.
She loved her family and friends and always greeted people with a smile and a word of kindness. Dorothy LaVelle loved helping others. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to: Haven Heights Baptist Family Life Center, Haven Heights Baptist Food Bank, 7701 Highway 271 South, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72908, The Charleston Dog Shelter, P.O. Box 118, Charleston, Arkansas 72933 or Sebastian County Humane Society, 3800 Kelley Highway, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72904.