Murna Mabel McKinney Parnell

Murna Mabel McKinney Parnellâ�"beloved mother, great-grandmother, sister, and friendâ�"quietly entered Heavenâ�™s gates on Monday, June 22, 2009, with her cherished son and caregiver, Jerry Rossworn, at her side. Murna was born to William H. and Blanche L. McKinney on February 24, 1915, at the family homestead in Des Moines, New Mexico. In 1925, the family moved to Rogers, Arkansas, where Murna attended Maple Grove Elementary School and Rogers High School. As the result of a crippling accident when Murna was only a child, she was one of the first patients at the Arkansas Childrenâ�™s Hospital in Little Rock. Murna moved to Spokane, Washington, as a young woman and married Albert Rossworn. Murna and Albert were blessed with two sons, William (Bill) Arthur and Jerry Lee Rossworn. In 1943, Murna and the boys moved back to Rogers; here she met and married State Trooper Wallace Parnell. The family later moved to Nashville, Arkansas, where Murna and Wallace lived until Wallaceâ�™s death in 1990. At that time, Murna went to live with her son, Jerry, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Jerry faithfully cared for Murna in his home from then until her passing. Murna was an outgoing woman who never met a stranger. Her beautiful smile lit up a room, and she bravely enjoyed life in spite of physical afflictions. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Murna was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Edna Lorraine McKinney; brothers, Kenneth L. and Denzil E. McKinney; husband, Wallace Parnell; and nephews, Larry Cearley and Donnie McKinney. She is survived by sons Bill Rossworn of Palm Springs, CA; and Jerry Rossworn of North Little Rock, AR; grandsons Marc Damien and Chad William Rossworn both of Maryville, IN; granddaughter Tamara Lynn Rossworn Holloway and her husband, Barry of Little Rock, AR; several great-grandchildren; sister Cleo Elizabeth McKinney Cearley of Austin, TX; brother Warren M. McKinney and his wife, Barbara of Hutchison, KS; nieces Gwena Cearley of Austin, TX; Trena Wilson of Lewis, KS; and Norma Easterling of Rogers, AR; nephews Bob McKinney of Lewis, KS; Lyle McKinney of Lewis, KS; and Kevin McKinney of Hutchison, KS; and many other relatives and friends. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Murna Mabel McKinney Parnell please visit our Sympathy Store.