Willie Jean (Prince) Pederson

Willie Jean (Prince) Pederson, age 87, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 3, 2025. Jean was born February 16, 1937 in Ben Hur, Arkansas to Will Tom and Della Prince. She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug Pederson; her parents; two daughters Vickie Togsted and Brenda Reynolds; Son-in-law Michael Reynolds, Sister Rebecca Amato; two brothers J.W. (Duke) and Paul Ray Prince; and one grandson, Brandon Reynolds.

She is survived by her daughter Debbie Collins (Michael), her son Bobby Pederson, eight grandchildren: Brent, Stacy, Douglas, Ashley, Garrett, Hunter, Gage, and Cami Jean; seven great grandchildren; her sister Donna Taylor (Walter) and brother Carl Prince and many other relatives and friends.

Jean was born and raised in the Ozark Mountains in Newton County. Growing up she had a very frugal but happy life. She graduated from Deer High School in 1955 and later moved to Kansas City, MO. She eventually married her husband, Doug, on April 27, 1961. They settled in the Russellville area until May of 1976 when they moved to Bode, Iowa, Doug’s birthplace. They lived in Bode for 30 years raising their family. Upon Doug’s passing in March 2008, Jean returned to Arkansas making her home with Debbie and Mike in North Little Rock. She always wanted to return to Arkansas; it was home to her – though she still found time to visit family in Iowa and Texas.

Jean held multiple jobs over her lifetime. As a child, the family picked cotton in Blytheville and traveled to California to work the fruit harvest. As a woman, she worked as a Shoe Assembler, Cook/Bartender, Telephone Operator, Nurse’s Aide, Home Health Aide, Security Guard, Housekeeper, Elderly Sitter, Avon Representative, Babysitter, Convenience Store Clerk, and Packing/Shipping Worker. She was always dependable and hard-working, no matter the job. She loved antiquing, shopping, traveling to new places, spending time with her family, and gardening – with roses and violets being her favorites.

Jean was a member of Hillcrest Community Church and worked in the Children's Nursery until no longer physically able. Babies were one of her great loves!

A celebration of her life has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 16, 2025, due to inclement weather, at Hillcrest Community Church, 5520 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. The family will receive visitors at 1:00 PM, with the service to follow at 2:00 PM. Flowers may be delivered to the church Tuesday – Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or in lieu of flowers, Donations can be made to the Children's Ministry, Hillcrest Community Church, 5520 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, AR or Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Suite B1, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.  If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the Guestbook section.

www.arkansascremation.com