She loved life, a gifted guitarist and vocalist Velva Izora (Hunt) Ellison, 89, died Nov. 4, 2007, following an extended illness, at the Ashley Health Center in Rogers, Ark. She was born on Aug. 9, 1918, near Ava, (Little Beaver area near Arno), in Douglas County, to David Willey Hunt Sr. and Dulcie Ann Huffman Hunt. Velva was a 1939 graduate of Rogers, Ark., High School. She loved life, enjoyed crocheting, music and was a gifted guitarist and vocalist, often performing on radio before television and more often performing at local square dance gatherings in and around Ava.
Velva was preceded in death by her husband, James Russell Ellison, a life long employee of John Deere Company in Waterloo, Iowa, and a Veteran of World War II; two sisters, Wilma Hunt Wagner and Fairy Lee Hunt Davis, and two brothers, David Willey Hunt Jr. and Robert Jacob Huffman Hunt.
She is survived by her brothers, Russell and wife, Ann Hunt, of Ava, and Ralph Allison Hunt, of Harlingen, Texas; one sister, Wanda Lou Hunt Bautts and husband, Dr. B. J. Bautts, of Rogers, Ark.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Ava Cemetery with the Rev. Marty Blakey, local Methodist minister, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials donations can be made to a favorite charity or to your local church. Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. On-line condolences for Velva may be made at www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome. com.
