Nettie Jean Atha's Obituary
Nettie Jean Atha, age 95, of Fayetteville, AR, passed from this life Sunday, January 30, 2022. She was born December 12, 1926, in Spring Valley, AR, a daughter of the late Elmer William Calico and Artie Mae Whittington Calico. She was a wonderful woman and a very hard worker all her life, the fourth of five children. She was always good and kind to both of her children that she loved very much. She always helped her family. She went to a little country school called Needmore in Oklahoma. She always helped her parents work at home. When she was sixteen, she worked in a canning factory. During World War II she worked at a powder plant, where she rode a public bus from her home in Tahlequah to Chouteau, until the war ended. But her main work was at Levi Strauss and later at the V.A. Medical Center in Fayetteville from where she retired. She received many awards and accolades for her service at the V.A. as well as her other jobs. She spent many years and much time also working on the farm with her husband Arnold, raising chickens, growing a large garden, preserving, and canning what they had raised as well as helping with the cattle and baling hay. A great cook, she loved cooking for her family, especially big Sunday dinners and holidays. And if anyone came to her house, they were always welcome, and she always insisted they have something to eat.
Survivors are a daughter, Linda Dash (Richard); a son, Duane Atha (Karin); three great-grandchildren; five great-greatgrandchildren. Preceding her in death was her husband, Arnold Everett Atha; a grandson, Joe Leland Dash; siblings, Bea, Warren, Dean, and Perry.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 2, at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Family burial will follow at Dunnaway Cemetery, 8395 Madison 5205, Elkins, AR. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, until service time at Nelson Berna.
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