Elloie Mae Stem

JONESBORO - Elloie Mae Stem, age 98, passed away at Craighead Nursing Center, Jan. 21, 2026. Elloie was born Oct. 4, 1927, on the Parker Homestead to George H. and Dorothy Parker.

She lived her early life in Nettleton, and on the Parker family homestead located between Bay and Nettleton. She attended Frog Pond School, as well as Nettleton and Bay Schools. When she was 17, she and her family moved to California. Her family soon moved back to Nettleton, but she remained in California where she worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. She met her future husband and love of her life, Albert Stem who was a Navy seaman. He was shipped out to war, and she moved back to Nettleton to wait till he came home. As soon as he was discharged from the Navy, he caught a train to Nettleton, where they were married Feb. 6, 1946, in Nettleton. She then went with him to his home in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where they lived and raised their three children till April 1, 1960. They then moved back to her home town of Nettleton, where they spent the rest of their lives.

All of her life she was a hard worker, wonderful mother, a loving grandmother, and a woman who made all of her children's friends feel welcomed in her home. She was a Nettleton School Supporter and supported her children in every sport or activity they were involved in. She never missed any of their events. She and her husband owned Stem Apartments, and other rental properties in Nettleton. She worked at Frolic Footwear while helping her husband run and manage their business.

She was a member of Nettleton Baptist Church, and the Mary Martha Sunday School Class. In her retirement years, she and her husband developed a group of friends who met every morning at Hardee's, or Burger King for coffee, and played cards each week taking turns at each other's homes.

She was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband; and two grandchildren, Sean Stem, and Angie Caples; her brother Leo Parker and wife Joyce Parker; sister Aley Belle Crawford, and husband Ted Crawford; and her son in-law George Edings.

She is survived by her two sons Maxie Stem, George, Janice Stem; her daughter, Dora Stem Caples Edings, all from Jonesboro; her grandchildren, Clint, Melinda Stem, Kristal, Ryan Kibler, Allison Lamb, Chase Stem, Casey, Jennifer Caples, Cody Caples, Chelsea, Franklin Jennings, and Lindsey, Larry Miles. She is also survived by 21 great-grand children, and 8 great-great-grand children, and many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral service will be at Emerson's Funeral home in Jonesboro, Jan. 31, with visitation at 1 p.m. and service at 2 p.m. Brother Stan Ballard, and Pastor Brady Canright, Nettleton Baptist Church, will officiate. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Burial will be private due to weather conditions.

For lasting memorials donations may be made to Nettleton Baptist Church, 7001 Johnson Ave, Jonesboro, Ark.,72401, or Mothers of Angels Support Group, 1707 Biscayne Lane, Jonesboro Ark.,72401.