Cleo Kathryn Grigsby

Mrs. Cleo Kathryn (Millikin) Grigsby, 98 years old of Bradford, Arkansas, went to her heavenly home on January 10, 2024. She was born on August 7, 1925 to William Bruce and Ocie Beatrice (Phillips) Millikin of Bradford, AR. She attended ASU Beebe and taught at Oak Grove and Paragould Schools for several years. For many years after, she did whatever it took to support her family - working in restaurants, factories, picking up pecans, office and bookkeeping jobs, and Director of the CAPCA Weatherization Program for White County. Whatever it took to feed and clothe us. We’ve often told her that the hardest times when we were kids were the best times; just her and us. Her last job was the one she loved the best, working with the kindergarten kids at Bradford School. She loved all the little ones that knew her as Mrs. Cleo. Her greatest joy in life was us - her family. She loved us unconditionally but wouldn’t hesitate to let us know when we were wrong or needed ‘straightening out’. She kept us all in line. She took her role as Matriarch seriously and tried to ‘impart’ her wisdom, individually to each son, daughter, grand, great and great-great child. She is preceded in death by her parents; three sons, Burnice Clay Grigsby, Michael Lynn Grigsby and Ferrell Bruce Grigsby; grandson, Gregory Ferrell Grigsby; great grandson, Michael Stricklen; daughter-in-law, Phyllis Jean Grigsby; sons-in-laws, Everett McDougal and William Brooks; sister-in-law, Carolyn Fletcher and lifelong friend Laverne Falwell as well as other loved family and friends. She is survived by daughters, Kay (Rodney) Guthrie and Grace McDougal; three grandsons, Christopher (Galina) Guthrie, Clint Guthrie, and Lance (Jessica) McDougal; granddaughters, Shelley (Andy) Burrow, Kimberley Ferra Grigsby, Scarlette Lynn James, Lori (Dusty) Betts, Lisa (Phillip) Tedford. She also had 15 great grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers are Lance McDougal, Christopher Guthrie, Clint Guthrie, Jacob Miller, Lawson Guthrie, and Logan Guthrie. Honorary Pallbearers, Rodney Guthrie, Andy Burrow, Dusty Betts, and Phillip Tedford. Brother Don Robinson will be officiating. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024. Funeral Service to be Saturday, January 13, 2024, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Both are being held at Powell Funeral Home Chapel of Bradford (Bradford Memorial Funeral Home). Interment will follow at Heard Cemetery, Bradford, Arkansas. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home of Bradford, Arkansas.

Cleo Kathryn Grigsby

August 7, 1925 - January 10, 2024