Grace Mae Ettinger

Grace Mae Ettinger, 103, went home to be with the Lord and her loved ones on September 8, 2013. She has been a resident at Katherine’s Place, a senior living facility, in Fayetteville, Arkansas for several years.
Grace was born on August 5, 1910 in a log cabin near Weingarten, Missouri to William and Amanda Grigg. She grew up during horse and buggy days in the Ste. Genevieve area and moved to St. Louis in her early teens after losing her mother at the age of 13. There, Grace cared for her sisters until her marriage to Edwin Arthur Ettinger in 1929.
Ed and Grace lived and raised their 6 children in St. Louis during the 40’s and 50’s. From 1951 to 1962 they lived in Ed’s family’s historic home in Nauvoo, Illinois; which was built in 1853 with a German inscription in the gable. Today the house is part of a historic preservation. Grace and Ed also lived in Dallas, Pottsboro and Abilene, Texas, before moving to Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Grace was well known for her faithful Christian life of caring and sharing with others. She and Ed met while working at a Boy’s Club Ministry in St. Louis. Later, they often opened their home to take in others in need through the years. They were among the earliest members of Hope Church in St. Louis, and were active through the years teaching, serving and especially providing hospitality to missionaries. At one period, they built an addition onto their home to host missionaries needing short term housing. When they were well past retirement age, Ed and Grace moved to Kijabe, Kenya, Africa for three years to serve as missionaries and manage the guest house for the Africa Inland Mission. Later they managed the guest house at the Central American Mission in Dallas, Texas. Grace was also a faithful and active member of Nicodemus Communitity Church in Arkansas. In her 90’s, Grace dedicated countless hours of prayer and volunteering to help start and promote a place she dearly loved: Camp Eagle, a Christian Youth Camp founded by her grandson, Anthony Scott.
Grace was renown for her exquisite quilts, some of which are State Fair of Texas Blue Ribbon winners. She made over 100 of her highly coveted quilts, one for virtually every member of her enormous family. At one family reunion there were about 80 quilts hanging on display in a pavilion.
Grace had six children: Edward Paul, Marian Rae, Ruth Joyce, Martha Mae, Elizabeth Kay and Grace Ellen. She is survived by four, Marian Nokes of Siloam Springs, AR, Martha Munce of Bellair Bluffs, FL, Elizabeth Peters fo Parrish, FL and Ellen Scott of Abilene, TX. She has one surviving sister, Lucy McGuire of Farmington, MO. Grace has 21 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
The first of two memorial services for Grace will be held at Nicodemus Community Chruch, 21295 Fisher Ford Rd., Siloam Springs, AR, on Friday, September 13, at 10:00 am.
The second service will be held on Saturday, September 14, at the Preston Community Church, 134 Churchill Lane, Pottsboro, TX. Viewing and visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, with a memorial service following at 2:00 pm.
After the service, Grace will be transported by horse drawn wagon to her final resting place beside her husband, Ed; her daughter, Joyce Millet; and her grandson, Greg Millet, at the historic Preston Bend Cemetery near Glen Eden at 30529 Preston Bend Rd., Pottsboro, TX 75076.
Both services will be followed by a traditional Ettinger style gathering of family and friends for a meal and visitation. In Arkansas, at the Fellowship Hall at Nicodemus community Church and in Texas at De Happy Cajun restaurant located not far from the cemetery at 50055 N. State Hwy 289, Pottsboro, TX 75076.
All of Grace’s family, friends and acquaintances are welcome to attend all services and events. Grace, was renown for her legendary hospitality, welcoming spirit, sense of humor and enormous family reunions. She always loved company, “the more, the merrier”, she would say, “just let us know you’re coming and we’ll pour another cup of water in the soup”.
Our Amazing Grace has spent her lifetime sewing the beautiful quilt that is her family’s heritage. Now the last stitches are neatly in place and her work is done.
”True sympathy expresses itself through sincere service.”