Nellwyn Price Chaney, 89, was called to her heavenly home on a cold and rainy day on October 28, 2020, although she would have preferred sunshine and blue skies because she looked on the brighter side of life.

Like Elvis and Cher, all you had to say was "Nellwyn" and everyone who met her knew. She was not a plain person, by far! She boogied her way through life with a strength and energy most admired, living life her way - water skiing, snow skiing, sun bathing, swimming, ice skating backwards on frozen minnow ponds, playing golf and tennis, driving her Mustang convertible with the top down, always growing green onions, and dancing. What a dancer she was, too, and could put her favorite singer, Elvis, to shame.

Nellwyn was a mess in the sense of "quite a character." She was our special mess, a pistol, spitfire, full of grit, and the mental toughness to overcome tragedies in her life. So spunky and always herself. Always! The song "Always" by Irving Berlin was her favorite song, too. Anyone who knew her has a story, usually very colorful. Many called her the "Blue Lady" and her CB Handle in the 1970's was "Blue Nun." Everything around her was some shade of her favorite color blue that accentuated her sparkling blue eyes, including blue clothes, blue nails, blue jewelry, and blue furniture.

Nellwyn was born in Norphlet, AR on February 15, 1931 to John and Auda Henderson Price, where her daddy was the school superintendent in an oil boom town that went flat during the Great Depression. The family soon moved to Batesville where she became a cheerleader and the Homecoming Queen. She married Donald Price Chaney in 1949. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority at what is now known as the University of Central Arkansas, where she was graduated in 1952 with a B.S.E. degree. They moved to Newport, AR where she taught speech and English literature, and directed school plays, at Newport High School. In 1957 they moved to Augusta, AR where she served in leadership positions for the PTA, cub scouts and Augusta Methodist Church. Nellwyn and Donald spent much of their free time water recreating on Taylor Bay with family and friends. Nellwyn performed "Cyprus Garden" style pyramids with athletic friends for the Jaycees' Annual Water Ski Show at the Augusta Public Beach. She shared her love of the water and teaching as director of the annual Red Cross Swimming Lessons Program serving children and adults in Augusta and Paragould for over 20 years. Some of her life saving class students still complain, with laughter, that they thought they were going to be drowning victims themselves under her tough tutelage. During her time on the water she used her lifesaving skills to save some people from drowning.

Nellwyn remarried after Donald's death and moved to Paragould, AR in 1965 where she motivated and supported her children's involvement with academics, band, cheerleading, scouts, sports and the First United Methodist Church. During this time she designed and built two original homes. In the mid-70s she became the President and CEO of Jet Screen, Inc., a drive-point water well screen manufacturing company, which she built into a thriving business. After retirement in 1985 she moved to Sebring, FL where she became a neighbor and caregiver until their deaths to Evelyn Jones and Virginia Comeford, who were "family members" of the extended Chaney family. She was thrilled when her daughter moved to Sebring and raised her family near her.

After enduring three hurricanes in 2004 she moved back home to Arkansas, where she settled on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs and lived there independently until recently.

Nellwyn was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Price Chaney; her eldest grandson, Toby Jefferson Block of Paragould in 2012; daughter Gay Chaney Vaughn of Sebring, FL on August 21, 2020; and by three sisters, Marilyn Price Futrell, Carolyn Price Russell, and Margaret Price Edwards.

Survivors include her sons, Donald P. Chaney, Jr. (Terri) of Arkadelphia, AR, and David Love Sibley, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA; three grandsons, Nathan Chaney (Hilary) of Little Rock, AR, Chaney Block (Maggie) of Sebring, FL, and Taylor Chaney of Arkadelphia, AR; and six great-grandchildren. Those greats who called her "Great Nellwyn" are Eva and Emily Block of Miami, FL; River and Carter Chaney of Little Rock, AR; and Riley and Laklee Block of Paragould, AR. Family meant everything to Nellwyn and her last words to her family on a Zoom call from the Covid Isolation unit at CHI St. Vincent's hospital, just a few hours before she passed, were "I love you all so very much."

After the Covid pandemic subsides a graveside service is planned at the Chaney Family cemetery plot in Oaklawn Cemetery, Batesville, AR.

Memorials may be made to the Oaklawn Cemetery Fund, 500 East Main Street, Batesville, AR 72501; or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839, specifying the swimming lessons program.

The family gives thanks to all of Nellwyn's caregivers with CHI St. Vincent's Hospital, National Park Rehabilitation, Encompass Rehabilitation, and The Pines Nursing Center; and a special thank you to Maggie Mason with Arkansas Palliative Care.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.