Sarah Lea Daily Connell

Sarah Lea Daily Connell, age 85 of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, passed way peacefully on May 2nd , 2025. She was born on December 14, 1939, in Donaldson, Arkansas, to Robert “Bob” Lee Daily and Pauline Virginia West Daily. She entered the world with the help of Dr. Barrier and midwife Mrs. Ruby Fuller Rhodes.

Sarah began school at Donaldson Elementary and graduated from the newly consolidated Friendship-Donaldson school in 1957. Most of the students initially knew only their classmates from their own communities, but over the course of six years, they grew close and familiar with one another and by the time they graduated, the class had bonded deeply, with 25 students receiving their diplomas together. Sarah Lea handled most of her classes with poise, earning average marks overall excelling in typing with an “A”, though math proved more challenging, earning a “D”. Sarah graduated from Ouachita Schools in May 1957. She married Lowell Connell on November 21 of that same year. Their journey together spanned decades, states, and seasons of life, filled with family, farming, and faith.

In her many roles—wife, mother, bookkeeper, realtor, farmer, and team truck driver—Sarah brought determination and heart. She held a real estate license with Reeder Realty, worked as a bookkeeper at the Arkadelphia Grain Elevator, and, alongside Lowell, ran a sorghum business, farmed soybeans, wheat, oats, corn, and rice, and raised everything from pigs to ostriches.

She was active in her community, serving as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader, and later volunteered for mission trips to South Dakota and to Izmir, Turkey, through Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. In retirement, Sarah authored three books, including a memoir, a travel narrative, and a Christian mystery novel.

Sarah was preceded in death by her son, Roger Connell and her parents Bob and Pauline Daily, her in-laws Otis & Eleane Connell and Margret Connell.

She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Lowell Connell; daughter Anna Jo Connell of Arkadelphia, AR; grandchildren Ryne Johnston (Brenna) of Beaverton, OR and Kellye Talamantez (Justin) of Arkadelphia; Great-grandchildren Clara Carlson and Felix Johnson; siblings William “Bill” Gillum (Devonne) of Malvern and Jerry Daily (Janet) of Donaldson; and a host of extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.

A celebration of Sarah’s life will be held on Thursday, May 8th at Smith Family Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Stan Parris and Milton Paredes.

Serving as pallbearers are Doug Burnett, Stan Cooper, Andrew Daily, Buddy Gillum, Jim Gillum, Milton Paredes, and Justin Talamantez.

Sarah will be laid to rest at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens following the service.

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR. www.smithfamilycares.com