Lou Ellen (James) Emery of Conway, Arkansas departed this life on August 8, 2021 in Barling, Arkansas after an extended illness. She was born on October 26, 1948 in Hartford, Arkansas to Jack Woodrow, Sr. and Zella Mae James.
Lou loved her family and worked hard all her life to provide for her family. At the time of her retirement, she worked at the former Travis Lumber in Mansfield, Arkansas where she worked in the main office and made many friends.
Lou was a loving mother, nanny, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, and cousin. She was also a loving friend to so many people that she encountered over her lifetime.
Throughout her life, Lou was known for being motherly to many friends of her children and grandchildren. Many people referred to her as Nanny because she was that figure to them and she loved being, Nanny. She enjoyed science fiction, fantasy dramas, and pretty much any movie/television show that was edgy. One of Lou’s favorite pastimes was reading. While not working she could normally be found with a book and was once known to have an extensive collection of books including Anne Rice, Laurell Hamilton, and J.K. Rowling. She also enjoyed books considered to be classics and even those that were controversial. Lou also had a desire to understand most religious doctrines and various religious texts from around the world could be found in her collection.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack, Sr. and Zella James, her sister, Donna Jo Johnson, and her nephew, Zachary James.
To carry on her memory are her daughter, Michele Looper of Alma, Ark.; her son, Joe Gossett and Kevin Barnes of Maumelle, Ark.; her son, Ryan Emery and Debbie of Conway, Ark., and her brother, Jackie James and Shelley of Lavaca, Ark.; her grandchildren, Nicole McEntire of Fayetteville, Ark., Katrina Burris and Arlie of Alma, Ark., and Shelby Emery and Jackson Emery of Conway, Ark.; her great grandchildren, Karma, Seth, and Sadie Hine; Cason McEntire; Addison and Aiden Quinlivan; and Ethan, Ryan, Raleigh and Kira Burris; her niece, Sandy Moore; nephews, Jamie Johnson, Joshua, Jacob, Caleb, and Noah James along with her bonus son, Harley Elmore; many cousins, and friends. For the last three years of her life Lou Ellen resided at Heritage Living Center in Conway, Arkansas and she leaves behind many friends from her stay there.
Serving as pallbearers are her nephews, Jacob, Joshua, Caleb, and Noah James, Kevin Barnes, and Arlie Burris.
Funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday, August, 15 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood, Arkansas with interment at Hartford Memorial Park. Viewing and visitation will be Saturday prior to the service beginning at 10 am.
To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
