Mary Ellen Egleston

Mary Ellen Egleston, 87, of Royal, Arkansas, passed away Thursday, December 3rd, 2020, in Hot Springs. She was born October 24th, 1933, in Benicia, California; to Jim and Mary Brosch. She is preceded in death by her parents: first husband Jack Russell Cearley; second husband Patrick Henry Egleston; daughter Ellen Christine Herbert; brother Jim Brosch; and sister Charlotte McCannless.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Gordon; son-in-law Simon Herbert; grandchildren Blake Kasemeier, Trevor Gordon, and Sophie Gordon; great grandson Owen Kasemeier; and all of the amazing Egleston family, as well as a host of wonderful friends.

If you knew Mary Ellen then you will already know her love for her farm, family, and friends. She tended her connections with neighbors just like she tended her cottage garden: with love and attention and respect. She was active in the community, also working in food banks, giving back the joy and charity that she felt for this county. As the wife of two military men, she understood the value of loyalty, patriotism and God, but always tempered this with her own mischievous and independent spirit. Her heart was never far from the sea coast of Benicia where she grew up, but it also remains in Arkansas: we will feel her in the trees and the wind.

There will be no memorial service.

If anybody wishes to make a contribution, they can do so at 2 charitable organizations, Heifer International at info@heifer.org or the Mount Ida Food Pantry at 870-867-7168.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida, AR. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com