Mrs. Emma Lee Mickle
Mrs. Emma Lee Ward Mickle, age 95, of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Texarkana, Texas.

Emma Lee was born the eldest of five children, to Charles Bryant Ward, Sr., and Ruth Mae Moore Ward on October 28, 1925. She was raised in the little community of Almond in Sevier County. After graduating from Gillham High School, she traveled to Washington D.C. during World War II, working as a secretary for the war department near the Pentagon. She returned to marry the love of her life, M.L. Mickle, on January 5, 1946. Emma Lee was an accomplished pianist and music was always center stage in her life. She was a devoted member and pianist of the First Baptist Church in Gillham, for many years. She taught piano lessons at Gillham High School and passed her love and appreciation for music to many of her students. "Miss Emma", as she was affectionately called, played electric keyboard with The Country Session band, doing many fundraisers all over Arkansas and Oklahoma and she loved every minute of it.

Emma Lee was a wonderful cook and homemaker, an avid reader, loved doing crossword puzzles, traveling and meeting new people, fishing, and her sweet little cat of sixteen years, Punkin. She was Postmaster of the Gillham Post Office for about ten years and knew everyone. She had an amazing memory remembering names, birthdates, anniversaries and special events, and could even read and write shorthand after 75 years!

Emma Lee was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, M.L. Mickle; two sons, Duane Mickle and Rob Mickle; one grandson, Steven Elliott; two brothers, Paul Ward and Bryant Ward; and one sister, Bonnie Mutschler.

She leaves to cherish so many loving memories, two daughters and a son-in-law, Dian Mickle of Seaside, Oregon, and Charlotte and Shannon Blankenship of De Queen; four grandchildren and their spouses, Amber (Anthony) Glass-Mathis of Hooks, Texas, Colton (Kristin) Starkey of Lancaster, Ohio, Kalem (Amy) Mickle of Lowell, Arkansas, and Armanda (Duston) Daulton of Austin, Texas; twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Charlene Parker of Prineville, Oregon; one daughter-in-law, Cynthia Mickle of De Queen; as well as, many beloved nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, dear cousins, and many friends.

Graveside Services for Mrs. Emma Lee Mickle will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Valley Cemetery, Gillham, with Pastor Jerry Hill officiating. Burial will follow, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. Signing of the guestbook will be held on Friday, at the funeral home. You may send an online sympathy message at www.chandlerfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to her favorite charity, St Jude's children's hospital, in her memory.