Donella Talley

Donella Elizabeth Talley passed away peacefully on December 19, 2016. She was born in Little Rock, Ark. on December 3, 1928, to Nicholas O’Donell Rosser, for whom she was named, and Mazell Rosser Doyle. A graduate of Mount St. Mary’s Academy, she attended both Brenau College in Gainesville, Ga. and Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. She married James R. Talley of Magnolia, Ark., and they had two daughters to whom they both devoted their lives. She worked as an executive assistant throughout her career, known for her expertise in grammar, attention to detail and the “fastest typing skills in town.” After retiring from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1994, she worked as a volunteer for several years at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. At home, she was a wonderful cook, a voracious reader, known for her beauty and her love of beautiful things. She was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. A very private and spiritual person, she believed that anything was possible and instilled in her daughters a sense of limitless possibilities. She was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Donna Talley Rose and Marsha Talley Ballard, both of Little Rock, Ark.; her sister Nita Rosser Nichols and nephew Michael Nichols, both of Hot Springs, Ark.; her grandchildren, Alexis Nicole Rose and John Michael Ballard; and nieces Dorothy Torkelson of Cheyenne, Wy., Elizabeth Franklin of Richmond, Va. and Ann Whiteside of Montgomery, Ala. A tremendous debt of gratitude to Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Little Rock who took her into their family and gave to her many years of love and laughter. A special thank you to Kindred Hospice for their loving care over the last several months. The family will have a small, private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Briarwood Activity Fund at Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 516 S. Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, Ark. 72205, or to Kindred Hospice, 10800 Financial Center Parkway, Suite 380, Little Rock, Ark. 72211. Arrangements by Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth. Online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.