Ettie Lee Craven, age 81 of Heber Springs, Arkansas passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. She was born on July 9, 1944, in Floral Arkansas to the late David Lee Nicholson and Flora Estelle (Kennedy) Nicholson.

She was blessed with many spiritual gifts including humility, serving others and genuine love and empathy for others. She was willing to help anyone with a need and prayer was always a part of helping. Serving others came naturally to her and her gentle kindness left a lasting impression on so many lives. She was a very independent lady until her health declined. She came to live with her family. She would find joy and laughter in any situation. She loved being around her family, working in her flower garden, fishing, cooking for her family, and canning the vegetables from her garden. Her family would often seek her opinion and knowledge about growing a garden. She will be remembered for her jams, jellies, German chocolate cake, and fudge which was always prepared with love and kindness. Mom loved serving in the kitchen regardless of whether it was home or her church. She found comfort and peace while watching the deer in the backyard. She enjoyed watching the hummingbirds and wild birds on her back porch. She made sure they never ran out of food. She loved her drink from Sonic. If someone was coming to visit her, she would perk up and request that they make a Sonic run before coming over. 

She loved her family and was the fabric that held everyone together with her love, kindness, faith and prayers. But most of all, she loved the Lord. She was a prayer warrior and prayed daily for her family. We were blessed to see so many of those prayers be answered. She spoke often of what the Lord had done in her life. 

Ettie was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas. She served as the women’s fellowship coordinator and gardener for many years. She will be remembered for her deep faith, her servant heart, her joyful spirit and the warmth she shared freely with so many others. Her life was a quite but powerful witness to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the love she gave so generously and shared continue to live in all those who were blessed to know her. 

She is preceded in death by her late husband, Jay Craven of Searcy, her sisters Jessie Lee Whorrall of Heber Springs and Belle Wilson of Floral, Arkansas. She is survived by her four children: Pam Lantz (Mark) of Greers Ferry, Arkansas, Patty Boe (Gary) of Texas, Polly Baggett (Jeff) of Heber Springs, Arkansas and Jr. Allgood of Floral, Arkansas. She had eight grandchildren: Sheena Isbell (Justin), Stephen Hunt (Jacklynn), Chad Boe, Candice Spotts (Kevin), Derek Boe (Bernice), Tanya Harmon (George), Brittany Campbell (Wendell) and Duncan Allgood. She also leaves behind seventeen great grandchildren.

The visitation is 10:00 AM, Monday, April 14, 2026 at Heber Springs Funeral Home followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. The interment is at Chastain Chapel Cemetery in Tumbling Shoals. Pallbearers are Duncan Allgood, Derek Boe, Justin Isbell, Stephen Hunt, Tom Woodard, and Chase Carpenter.