Ethel Anders

Ethel Marie (Ponder) Anders, 46, of Conway died Dec. 29, 2006, at her Jacksonville residence. Ethel was born April 13, 1960, in Chelsea, Okla., to Andrew and Edna (Dye) Ponder, and lived in central Arkansas most of her life. It was Ethel's dream to turn her thrift store into a thriving business always hoping to stumble upon a collectible worth a million dollars. Ethel couldn't pass a trash heap without scanning it for treasure. Ethel believed in angels. She often said, "I've got my halo, I'm just waiting on my wings." She collected owls, raccoons and wind chimes for herself. She believed four-leaf clovers and pennies found "heads up" brought luck. She would spend hours in clover patches to find four-leaf clovers and would give them to whomever she thought could use some luck. She loved playing the slot machines in Tunica, and always kept good luck charms on hand for hopes of a jackpot. Ethel began working hard at an early age, splitting firewood before school while waiting on the school bus. She grew up in Big Cabin, Okla., on a farm until she had a daughter at an early age, married and moved to Guam with her military husband. She married and divorced Tracy's father James Turpin twice, picking up the nickname "ET." Ethel worked many years as a waitress for Pizza Hut and later the 76 Truck Stop in North Little Rock and Shoney's restaurants in Alabama and Branson, Missouri until she divorced her second husband nine years ago and moved back to Arkansas to be closer to her daughter Tracy Whitaker. She loved most spoiling her grandchildren, especially Rodney, who was old enough to have adventurous fishing trips, bike races, go-cart rides and target shooting with BB guns with "Nana." She will be remembered for her ability take Duct tape, bungee cords, magnets or whatever necessary to make things work. She loved Morning Glories. She was an amazing woman, with extraordinary abilities and a straightforward personality appreciated by those who knew her well. She was known to always speak her mind. She was strong, straightforward and exhibited unique character with an attitude like no other. Ethel read her horoscope daily. She was an Aries, noted for being "generous, warm, confident, assertive, idealistic and courageous." Survivors include: her grandchildren, Rodney McMurtry, Molly and Liam Whitaker, her daughter Tracy Whitaker and son-in-law Chris, all of Conway, Arkansas; one brother, James O. Ponder of Oklahoma; six sisters and their husbands, Bonnie and Charles Baty, Freda and Fred Seely, Vera and Ron Bright, Evelyn and Jim Byrd, Betty and Ernie Jones, and Bertha and Dan Tiller, all of Oklahoma. She was a great mother, always taking care of Tracy and her "adopted" children Jennifer Williams, Brian "Earnhardt" Spears and her cat Thomas. Many nieces and nephews and other relatives also survive. Preceding her in death were her parents, a niece, Ann (Jones) Beeson and her cat "Tiger Tom." Funeral Services were held January. 9, 2007, at the Luginbuel Chapel in Vinita, Oklahoma. A local memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday January 25 at Faith Assembly of God located at 1655 Middle Road in Conway, Arkansas, where Ethel's grandson Rodney is a member. Friends are encouraged to write a letter to Ethel to be read at the service. Anyone unable to attend may e-mail letters to be read at the service to turptracyw@yahoo.com. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com. Donations are being accepted for the purchase of an urn. Obituary written by Tracy Whitaker. Luginbuel Funeral Home 332 N Scraper Vinita, OK 74301

Service Details

Tuesday, January 9th, 2007 2:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home