Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ethel M. McDade

Ethel M. Rowe Garrett McDade, passed from this life on Thursday, May 22, 2008. She would have been 97 years old on June 3. She was a former resident of Prescott and had been living in Hope since 1993. She died at Heather Manor Nursing Home.

Ethel was born June 3, 1912, in Clark Co. She was the daughter of Joseph Jackson Rowe and Mary Rachel Porter Billingsley Rowe. She loved life and all it brought to her. Her nickname Day befitted her. As a young girl, Ethel attended school in Arkadelphia, worked in the cotton fields with her siblings, and gathered the skills needed to become a seamstress. Life was not easy in Arkansas, but Ethel was a descendant of some pioneering Arkansas families, the Rowes, the Porters, and the Stocktons. Her paternal great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Rowe was an American Revolutionary War veteran. He lived to be 97 years old. Her maternal great-grandfather Elijah Winchester Stockton was a pioneer of Arkansas receiving land grants from President Ulysses S. Grant.

Ethel was married twice. Her first marriage was to Owen Jim Minus Garrett of Prescott. They were married in Galveston, Texas. Earlier this year Ethel retold the story of her elopement. She smiled and said after the judge had finished Jim turned and kissed me. She loved Jim very much. They made their life in Prescott, where they were members of the First United Methodist Church. After Jim had passed away, Ethel married Clyde McDade, also of Prescott. She and Clyde were married until he passed away in 2000.

Since 1993 Ethel had made her home at Hope Haven Retirement Center. She enjoyed her life there and all of her friends. On many occasions she would say honey, I just dont know how I could have it any better. So there is a lesson to be learned in that one sentence-be happy.

Ethel will be missed by all, especially her niece, Lana Thompson Munn, and great nephew, Joe Thomas Goad, as they were her special caregivers the last several years. Ethel is also survived by Sam A. Rowe, Ralph W. Rowe, Kenneth Rowe, Mary Ann Thompson Scott, Carolyn Thompson Davidson, Autry A. Thompson Jr. and Nelda Thompson Doyle.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands; brothers, Charles and Sam; sisters, Myrtle, Pauline, Rossie, Stella, and Ted.

Visitation was held Saturday, May 24, at the home of Lana Thompson Munn on Saturday, May 24, between the hours of 4:30-6:3- p.m.

A graveside service was held Sunday, May 25, at 2 p.m. in Nubbin Hill Cemetery in Prescott, with Rev. Westmorland officiating and under the direction of Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home of Hope.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Unity Baptist Church, 402 South Hervey, Hope, AR 71801.

Our online guest book is at www.pharrfuneralhomes.com