Smithville-Oleta B. Wallis, 85, passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.  She was born on August 31, 1933 in Smithville to Isaac Newton and Geneva Marie Culver Bilbrey.  She taught at Strawberry school for thirty-four years and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and the Randolph/Lawrence County Cattle Association. Oleta was a lifetime member of New Hope Baptist Church in Smithville.

Preceding her in death were: her husband, William Albert Wallis, Jr; her parents; a sister, Madia Marie Edward (Sissy).

Oleta is survived by a son, Bilbrey Joe Wallis and wife Linda of Smithville; a daughter, Billie Fry and husband Mike of Pocahontas; grandchildren, Joseph Heath Wallis, Lea Rivera, Wendie Allyson Phelps; great-grandchildren, Kylan, Abby, Mason, Isaac, Caroline, and Maggie.

Miss Oleta Wallis, as most everyone called her rarely sat still a day in her life.  On any given day you could find her toiling away on the farm dressed in a pair of jeans and a floppy trimmed sunhat or dressed to the "nines" in high heels and pearls playing the piano at a wedding.  She was the epitome of what a "Southern Lady" should aspire.  Always had time to listen, but you also had to be ready to hear her opinion on the matter.  Loved good food, good friends and especially good music.  Being a teacher at heart, she always had high expectations of herself and desired no less of her students.  When she saw that something needed to be done her motto was "no time like the present".  As things began to slow down in her life she yearned to spend more time with her lifelong friends and family members who would often drop by for a visit.  She appreciated every single minute of their time and her family thanks you.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 5, 2019 from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Smithville.  The funeral will follow at 2:30 p.m. with Harold Russell and Brent Powell officiating.  Burial will be in Smithville Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.

In lieu of flowers you may make a contribution to the New Hope Baptist Church % Karen Phillips or the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Honored to serve as pallbearers will be John Thomson, Mike Holland, Warren Williams, Gary Phillips, Dan Sloan, and Brent Tipton.

Honorary pallbearers are Edward Bilbrey and Fred Milligan.