Alma Frances Hardesty

Mrs. Alma Frances Hardesty, 90, of Blytheville, widow of Kenneth Hardesty, passed from this life Monday, Sept. 17, 2012.

Born in Derby, Ind., to Pete and Jane Avis Etienne, she was a nurse and respiratory therapist at Walls Hospital and Chickasawba Hospital for 40 years. She was a graduate of Holland High School.

Alma was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Altar Society and the Grandmothers Prayer Group. She loved to cook and her specialty was her pecan tarts and meatballs. She always made nine pecan pies for the church bake sales. She loved to make quilts and rosaries for her family and her church fall festivals. She was a loving wife and mother and she loved to care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who lovingly called her "Gigi."

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Amos Etienne, Edward Etienne, Carl Etienne and Leonard Etienne; and a sister, Emma Sharp.

Alma is survived by her children, Kathryn Davis and husband, Don, of Blytheville, and the Rev. Ernest Hardesty of Atkins;

Six grandchildren, Donna Fincher and husband, Charles, of Jonesboro, Mike Davis and wife, Teresa, of Cabot, Chris Davis and wife, Tina, of Conway, Shelia Thomas, Sherri Larkin and husband, David, and Renita Sprouse and husband, Gary, all of Blytheville; and

Twenty-two great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Ernest Hardesty officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Cobb Funeral Home. Rosary will follow at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Leo's College Ministry, P.O. Box 9033, Russellville, AR 72811 or Immaculate Conception Youth Ministry, P.O. Box 747, Blytheville, AR 72316. An online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com