Etta Jewel Barrett

Etta Jewel Baker Barrett Bostian was born on July 10, 1924, in Biscoe, Arkansas to John A. and Effie Jewel Mullen Baker. She graduated from Moro High School in 1943 and attended Draughan's School of Business in Little Rock. During WWII, she worked for Western Union in both Little Rock and New York. In 1946, she began a lengthy career with Merrill Lynch and retired in 1979 after 33 years of employment. After retiring from Merrill Lynch, she worked for Olivet Baptist Church for 10 years before permanently retiring. She was a member of the Eastern Star for 50 plus years and also a member of BPW for over 50 years, during which time she served as state president of the Arkansas Federation. She belonged to several other organizations and volunteered at St. Vincent's for several years. She liked to travel, visit with family and friends and she loved her Lord, her church and serving others. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 44 years, Floyd Barrett, husband of 18 years, Albert Bostian, brothers Billy Joe, James and Cleon Baker, sisters Louise Sites, Lucille Thomas and Leon Winborn, her special great niece Mary Ellen McAlister and her special niece by marriage, Demetra Gannaway. Although she had no children of her own, she is survived by her niece Virginia Hall, Little Rock; nephew, Stephen Baker (Dede), Friendswood, Texas, niece, Carole Miller (AI), Texas City, Texas, great, great nephew Barrett McAlister (Brandi), Benton; and the niece and nephews of Floyd Barrett to whom she was still very close, Wanda Hawkins (Bob), Beebe; John Summar (Lucille), Cabot and Hollis Summar (Nancy), Arkadelphia, as well as many other extended family members and many, many friends. She was a soft spoken lady who was loved by many and will be truly missed by those closest to her. She was a special person who always had a kind word for everyone she met and will always be remembered for her butterfly pins that she wore each and every day. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, CNA's and all the staff who cared for Etta during her stay in the Arkansas Hospice Unit at CHI St. Vincent's for the wonderful care and consideration given to her and all our family during her 3 week stay. Memorials may be made to Lifeway Baptist Church, 800 Wellington Village Road, Little Rock, AR 72211 or Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116. Funeral will be 11:00am, Tuesday, November 15, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Park, under the direction of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth.