Stella Maureen Ware, 84, of Bella Vista, AR died Thursday, February 19, 2009 in Fort Smith. She was a Catholic, an internationally known painter, a commercial artist and ran Alpha Advertising with her late husband of 50 years, Albert Ware. She was born in Willow, OK on June 15, 1924. She attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman where she met her future husband. She worked for Phillips Petroleum in Kansas City, raised five children, was a Catholic School Art teacher, and sold draperies for J.C. Pennys. She lived and worked in Denver, CO and in Mangum, Norman, Inola, Claremore, Bartlesville and Enid, OK. She then moved to Arkansas in 1970 where she lived in Fort Smith, Van Buren, Rogers and Bella Vista. She was a true intellectual and a brilliant artist who created thousands of works which will be her legacy.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert, one son Phillip, her mother and father, Joe and Marguerite Heatley and two sisters, Murel Cearley and Joneta Hale.

She is survived by two daughters, Catherine Ann Kielty and her husband Jim of Columbus, OH and Teresa Marie Ware of Bella Vista, two sons, John Stephen Ware and his wife Melanie of Rogers and Thomas Mathew Ware and his wife Libby of Fort Smith, one sister, Iva Nell Templer of Durant, OK, ten grandchildren, Mo Abbot, Christina Nanez, Stephenie Reed, Christopher, Vincen and Kevin Wellborn, Anthony, Caitlin and Elizabeth Ware and Jerry Roller, seven great grandchildren and one great great grandson along with many nieces, nephews, friends, relations and admirers.

Cremation Memorial Service will be at a later date with entombment of the cremains to be at the U.S. National Cemetery columbarium in Fayetteville, AR under the direction of Ocker-Putman Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

I lieu of flowers donations may be made to Childrens House 2190 South Razorback Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Source:  Ocker-Putman Funeral Homes, on-line