Ava Jewel Buckley Harper, age 90, passed away September 4, 2024, exactly 10 years after her beloved husband passed away. She passed peacefully at the home of her daughter and caregiver, Julie, with family members at her side.
Born October 18, 1933, Ava Jewel was the third child of Griff and Agnes Long Buckley. She was born in the community of Palestine, outside of Maynard, Arkansas where she attended school and graduated from Maynard High School in 1950. Following graduation, Ava Jewel married the love of her life, Weldon Harper, on December 26, 1952. In the 61 years they spent together they built a loving home, raised 4 children, and cherished every day they had with their dozen grandkids. She was known as Mother, Granny and Great-Granny. She spoiled those grandkids rotten and continued to spoil her 20 great-grandchildren every opportunity she had.
Ava Jewel was not only a loving homemaker, but she worked many years for the Brown Shoe Company until her retirement in the early 1990s. It is thought this may be where her love of shoes began. She was a member of the Church of Christ and enjoyed fellowshipping with her church family, friends, and neighbors. She had a love for animals and always had a little dog by her side.
Ava Jewel was preceded in death by her parents, husband and Kevin Ungerank, a very special son-in-law. Her three sisters, Glenda Faye, as an infant, and her two cohorts in crime Reva Buckley Crismon and Christine Buckley Thompson.
She is survived by her four children, Jennifer (Leroy) Nichols, Jeffery (Lisa) Harper, Jacqueline Harper (Jody Woodard), all of Pocahontas, and Julie Ungerank Knoke (Mark) of Austin, AR. Twelve grandchildren – John Nichols, Jill (Josh) Neely, Josh Nichols, Amy Harper (Jay) Smith, Kelly Harper (Michael) Urban, Carrie Harper (Adam) Penman, Whitney Harper (Conner) Ribble, Cody (Natasha) Wilson, Justin (Magan) Wilson, Kory (Cassie) Ungerank, Colby (Stephanie) Ungerank, and Jeremy (Amelia) Ungerank. She also has twenty great-grandchildren: Joslyn Nichols, Jackson Nichols, Jayce and Brayden Tillie, Ashlan and Hayden Smith, Ethan Urban, Jameson and Ryan Penman, Palmer, Baker and Hayes Ribble, Kyler Gilbee, Rylo Wilson, Katelyn Ungerank (Noah) Disheroon, Caydance, Cayleigh, and Kannon Ungerank, Dylan and Kenzie Ungerank along with many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 12:00-2:00 P.M. with a service at 2:00 P.M. with Jay Smith officiating. Both will be in the chapel of McNabb Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers: John and Josh Nichols, Kory, Colby, and Jeremy Ungerank and Justin Wilson. Honorary pallbearer Cody Wilson.