Erma Rife McNeill

Erma Rife McNeill, 93, a resident of Little Rock, Arkansas, died peacefully during the early morning hours of October 19, 2023, at The Lakes Nursing Home, Maumelle, Arkansas, to rejoin her late husband on the 72nd anniversary of their wedding date. Born on February 6, 1930, in Rogers, Arkansas, she was one of seven children of Claude and Bertha “Betty” Piercy Rife. Growing up in Lowell, Arkansas, she graduated from Rogers High School and continued her education at the Arkansas State School of Nursing graduating in 1950.

She married C.A. “Bill” McNeill in Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 19, 1951. After raising their four children, she went back to school and graduated from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff with a BSN and completed her MSN at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Erma began her nursing career working as an RN in Little Rock and in 1960 after she and Bill moved to Pine Bluff, she helped open Jefferson Regional Medical Center where she went on to hold many positions until she transitioned to teach at the Jefferson School of Nursing in 1983. She taught there until her retirement in 2001, when she and Bill returned to Little Rock. Following Bill’s death in 2001, she began teaching part time at the Baptist School of Nursing, until her retirement in 2008.

Erma is survived by her four children: Phil (Janie) of Maumelle, Arkansas; Paul (Melinda) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Bobby of North Little Rock, Arkansas; and Vicki of Petaluma, California; grandchildren Bo (Jamie) McNeill of Little Rock, Arkansas; Jeanne (Oskar) Johansson of Little Rock, Arkansas; Blake (Jill) Stevenson of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Katie (Travis) Wussow of Washington, D.C; Hallie McNeill of Glendale, California; Maggie Stevenson of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Matt (Claire) McNeill of Dallas, Texas; Bret Stevenson of Atlanta, Georgia; Marc McNeill of Boulder, Colorado; and Hannah McNeill of Phoenix, Arizona; and, 10 great grandchildren.

She is also survived by siblings Sybil Dunn of Wichita, Kansas; Ed Rife of Clay Center, Kansas; and Claudine Barnett of Rogers, Arkansas.

In Pine Bluff she was a member of Lakeside United Methodist Church and after returning to Little Rock, she became a member of Pulaski Heights Methodist Church where she thoroughly enjoyed singing in the choir. Erma especially enjoyed gardening and tending to her yard and flowers.

Erma will be remembered for her unconditional love, her tireless work ethic, and her indomitable spirit or “spunk” as some might call it.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Pulaski Heights Methodist Church Choir fund.

Visitation to be held at 8:30 A.M., followed by funeral services at 9:30 A.M., Friday, October 27, 2023, at Griffin Leggett Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com for the McNeill family.