SPRINGDALE — Essie Gertrue (Atkinson) James,

a ge 8 8 , o f Springdale, Ark., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. She was born in Elk City, Okla., on Nov. 3, 1932, to William Frank and Golda Lea Atkinson.

Preceded in death by her parents; sister, Lillie James; and a daughter, Jona Lea.

She is survived by a son, Harmon James Jr., and daughter-in-law, Carolyn James; daughter, Karen O’Neal, and significant other, Terry Luther; brothers, James Atkinson, Elmer Atkinson, Joe Atkinson, Eugene Atkinson, Jerry Atkinson; nieces, Mary Jaro, Sheila Hatfield, Marsha Barger; a nephew, Gary James; and loved by many grandchildren, great- grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Essie couldn’t wait to attend elementary school at Pilgrims Rest in Springdale graduating in 1946. While she wanted to attend high school, there wasn’t enough money at the time. She and her brother went to work at Mayfield Canning Company to be able to pay for her first year of high school. At the time high school took three years but it took her five because she worked for short stints in drug stores in Tulsa, Okla., and Fort Smith, Ark., to pay for her education; graduating as an honor student from Huntsville State Vocational School in May of 1952. That same year, Essie married Harmon “Jack” James. She later received her certificate in Bookkeeping from Springdale High School in 1968. After working for many years as a bookkeeper, she retired in 1996 from Mildred’s Tax Service in Springdale.

Essie loved quilting, embroidery, crocheting doilies and afghans, sewing vests for Springdale Riding Club and saddle blankets for Springdale Quadrille. Her belief in education was so great, she as a young mother helped raise money to expand the Pilgrims Rest School. She liked watching football, golf, movies and horse racing. She enjoyed cooking, reading, writing letters, working sudoku puzzles, and collecting recipes, cookbooks, and hens. Her greatest attributes were her intelligence, sense of humor, kindness, willingness to jump in to fix anything and once designed her own home.

Growing up with very little she learned to be very innovative with the little they had on hand. She had the ability to repurpose things which was the product of taking good care of all the things she had. Her home was open to anyone and the dinner table always had enough for everyone.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at Sisco Funeral Chapel, Springdale, Ark. Burial will be immediately following at Friendship Cemetery, Springdale, Ark. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Sisco Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made on behalf of Essie James to the Springdale Fire Department, 417 Holcomb, 2nd Floor, Springdale, AR 72764.

Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com .