Oba Tennyson Ensley, age 99, passed away peacefully at her home in Joplin, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.
Oba was born on July 7, 1912, in Bass, Ark.; the daughter of Joseph Franklin Tennyson, "Joe" and Martha Melinda, "Mattie" (Dodson) Tennyson. At the age of 9, Oba and her family moved from Bass to Bentonville, Ark., traveling in two covered wagons; the trip took five days. She graduated from Bentonville High School and attended Bentonville Business College. She was one of the original employees of the Thriftway Grocery store at 7th and Florida. She worked 27 years at Royal Drug and eight years at Eileen's Fashion Barn. In her early adult life she became dedicated to raising her two sons, Smokey and Dusty. She was a founding member of the Church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut. She was devoted to the church, enjoyed gardening and loved hats. Her life was a wonderful example of virtue, grace, knowledge and love.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph W. "Smokey" Ensley, of Leawood, Kan., and Donald C. "Dusty" Ensley and wife, Gloria, of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Michael T. Ensley and wife, Laurie, of Sudbury, Mass., and Christopher B. Ensley and wife, Elizabeth, of Overland Park, Kan.; her brother, Ralph Tennyson and wife, Kay, San Diego, Calif.; and her sister, Esta Lee McElroy, Uvalde, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, James, Sophie, Olivia and Tess. She was preceded in death by her parents, and daughter-in-law, Dodie Ensley; and her brother, Thomas M. Tennyson.
Visitation will be held at the Church of Christ, 26th and Connecticut in Joplin, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. A private family burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the church library.
She was the best of mothers, the best of friends and the best of citizens.
Oba was born on July 7, 1912, in Bass, Ark.; the daughter of Joseph Franklin Tennyson, "Joe" and Martha Melinda, "Mattie" (Dodson) Tennyson. At the age of 9, Oba and her family moved from Bass to Bentonville, Ark., traveling in two covered wagons; the trip took five days. She graduated from Bentonville High School and attended Bentonville Business College. She was one of the original employees of the Thriftway Grocery store at 7th and Florida. She worked 27 years at Royal Drug and eight years at Eileen's Fashion Barn. In her early adult life she became dedicated to raising her two sons, Smokey and Dusty. She was a founding member of the Church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut. She was devoted to the church, enjoyed gardening and loved hats. Her life was a wonderful example of virtue, grace, knowledge and love.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph W. "Smokey" Ensley, of Leawood, Kan., and Donald C. "Dusty" Ensley and wife, Gloria, of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Michael T. Ensley and wife, Laurie, of Sudbury, Mass., and Christopher B. Ensley and wife, Elizabeth, of Overland Park, Kan.; her brother, Ralph Tennyson and wife, Kay, San Diego, Calif.; and her sister, Esta Lee McElroy, Uvalde, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, James, Sophie, Olivia and Tess. She was preceded in death by her parents, and daughter-in-law, Dodie Ensley; and her brother, Thomas M. Tennyson.
Visitation will be held at the Church of Christ, 26th and Connecticut in Joplin, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. A private family burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the church library.
She was the best of mothers, the best of friends and the best of citizens.
Oba Tennyson Ensley, age 99, passed away peacefully at her home in Joplin, on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.
Oba was born on July 7, 1912, in Bass, Ark.; the daughter of Joseph Franklin Tennyson, "Joe" and Martha Melinda, "Mattie" (Dodson) Tennyson. At the age of 9, Oba and her family moved from Bass to Bentonville, Ark., traveling in two covered wagons; the trip took five days. She graduated from Bentonville High School and attended Bentonville Business College. She was one of the original employees of the Thriftway Grocery store at 7th and Florida. She worked 27 years at Royal Drug and eight years at Eileen's Fashion Barn. In her early adult life she became dedicated to raising her two sons, Smokey and Dusty. She was a founding member of the Church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut. She was devoted to the church, enjoyed gardening and loved hats. Her life was a wonderful example of virtue, grace, knowledge and love.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph W. "Smokey" Ensley, of Leawood, Kan., and Donald C. "Dusty" Ensley and wife, Gloria, of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Michael T. Ensley and wife, Laurie, of Sudbury, Mass., and Christopher B. Ensley and wife, Elizabeth, of Overland Park, Kan.; her brother, Ralph Tennyson and wife, Kay, San Diego, Calif.; and her sister, Esta Lee McElroy, Uvalde, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, James, Sophie, Olivia and Tess. She was preceded in death by her parents, and daughter-in-law, Dodie Ensley; and her brother, Thomas M. Tennyson.
Visitation will be held at the Church of Christ, 26th and Connecticut in Joplin, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. A private family burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the church library.
She was the best of mothers, the best of friends and the best of citizens.
Oba was born on July 7, 1912, in Bass, Ark.; the daughter of Joseph Franklin Tennyson, "Joe" and Martha Melinda, "Mattie" (Dodson) Tennyson. At the age of 9, Oba and her family moved from Bass to Bentonville, Ark., traveling in two covered wagons; the trip took five days. She graduated from Bentonville High School and attended Bentonville Business College. She was one of the original employees of the Thriftway Grocery store at 7th and Florida. She worked 27 years at Royal Drug and eight years at Eileen's Fashion Barn. In her early adult life she became dedicated to raising her two sons, Smokey and Dusty. She was a founding member of the Church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut. She was devoted to the church, enjoyed gardening and loved hats. Her life was a wonderful example of virtue, grace, knowledge and love.
She is survived by her two sons, Joseph W. "Smokey" Ensley, of Leawood, Kan., and Donald C. "Dusty" Ensley and wife, Gloria, of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Michael T. Ensley and wife, Laurie, of Sudbury, Mass., and Christopher B. Ensley and wife, Elizabeth, of Overland Park, Kan.; her brother, Ralph Tennyson and wife, Kay, San Diego, Calif.; and her sister, Esta Lee McElroy, Uvalde, Texas; and four great-grandchildren, James, Sophie, Olivia and Tess. She was preceded in death by her parents, and daughter-in-law, Dodie Ensley; and her brother, Thomas M. Tennyson.
Visitation will be held at the Church of Christ, 26th and Connecticut in Joplin, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 23. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. A private family burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the church library.
She was the best of mothers, the best of friends and the best of citizens.
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