of Conway, AR
May 27, 1930 - April 21, 2014
Violet Joan (Avra) Connell, 83, of Conway, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, April 21st, 2014. She was born on May 27th, 1930, in Vilonia, AR, to the late Fred and Ferell (Hazel) Avra.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Earl Connell Jr.; her daughter, Mary Ellen (Connell) Corbitt; a grandson, Kyle Connell Buchanan; a sister, Rosemary Craig, and two brothers, Sam and Tom Avra.
Affectionately known as "Nina" by her family, she traveled as a young Navy wife to Bermuda, Key West, and San Diego with her four young daughters in tow. One family adventure included evacuating from Key West during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). She and another mother piled into a car with their eight young children and several dogs and drove back to Arkansas in the middle of the night. She enjoyed leading brownie troops and youth choirs. She loved cooking for large family gatherings and was known for her southern fried chicken and baked beans.
She is survived by her daughters, Rose Ann Alisandre, Linda Susan Clanton, and Melody June Buchanan; nine grandchildren, Drew Alisandre, Ruth Ann (Corbitt) Mathis (James), L.C. "Bubba" Corbitt III (Mieke), Mary Jo (Corbitt) Alexander (Jonathon), Jeff Clanton, Jamie Brown, Jessica Clanton, Ian Buchanan (Treci), and Christopher Buchanan; and twelve great-grandchildren, Haley Claire and Margaret Reese Mathis; Juliana Corbitt; Logan, Abigail, and Pyper Alexander; Justice and Jacob Brown and Tyson Tanner; Jasper Caserta; Tucker Sharp and Kai Turner.
A private memorial service for family and friends is scheduled for Sunday, April 27th.
Out thoughts and prayers are with you as we share your grief in the loss of your beloved Joan. As cousins, we shared some happy times as children. Ernest and Jo Avra
So sorry for your loss. She was an awesome woman. God bless y'all.