Lois Ruthell Southerland

Ruthell Southerland, 85, of Drasco went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 17, 2023.  She was born February 13, 1938 in Heber Springs, Arkansas the daughter of the late Elmer and Lola Foust Deckard.

She was Baptist in faith and a woman of few words.  She took great pride in taking care of everyone she loved.  Her passions were cooking and baking, but she also loved planting and growing beautiful  flowers.  She was known for having the most splendid azaleas around and the best desserts at any church pot luck.  Her cheesecakes were always exceptional, and she always made sure nobody left Nana’s house hungry. Ruthell and Earl owned a grocery store in Heber Springs called Southerland’s Market.  She worked for many years at the Country Store in Drasco and for Cleburne County in the courthouse.  Her greatest accomplishment however was being a Mom and Nana.  She enjoyed watching sports especially the Arkansas Razorbacks and St. Louis Cardinals.  Ruthell was truly a virtuous woman.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Earl Southerland, her parents Elmer and Lola Deckard, a brother Bill Deckard; sister- in- law Katherine Deckard and a nephew Robert Deckard.  She was survived by her three children; son Tim (Sharon) Southerland; her daughters Pam (Ronnie) Brooks; Kim  (Dewayne) Ezell; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and many friends.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her caregiver Theresa Marks with White River Area Agency on Aging and Arkansas Hospice for the wonderful care in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pleasant Ridge Cemetery at PO Box 58, Drasco, AR 72530, Arkansas Hospice Foundation at www.arkansashospice.org, or White River Area Agency on Aging Emergency Fund at PO Box 2637, Batesville AR, 72503

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