Our world has been forever changed with the passing of our beloved Esther Estell Millard Tharp on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2020, just days after her 94 ^th birthday. We love her very much, and we will think of her often and fondly.

Born on October 25, 1926 in Iowa Park, Texas, Estell grew up primarily in the small town of Blue Ball, Arkansas. She was a daughter of the late Luther Earnest Herring Millard and Ophia Elizabeth Mullins Millard. She is preceded in death by her three brothers, Henry Lewis Millard, Bobby Gene Millard, Luther "Took" Millard; her sister, Syble Juanita Mathis; her three half-sisters, Ola Earnestine Millard, Celia Turk, and Evelyn Terrell; and one half-brother, Oather "Oakie" Millard. Estell valued her family members and kept in touch and visited with them often before they passed.

Estell moved to Little Rock, Arkansas around 1948, where she later married Norman Woodrow Tharp on July 24, 1954. They celebrated the birth of their only daughter, Kim Tharp Maginn, on April 18, 1958, and Estell later attended her daughter's marriage to Ray Maginn in 1983. Estell worked at Westinghouse/Philips Lighting for 45 years before retiring in 1992. She was a dedicated and hard worker and knew the value of putting all she had into everything she did. After her retirement, she worked as a caregiver for many years for a couple of women who became like family to her. She also worked as the fondly remembered "Nap Lady" for the Pre-K classes at The Anthony School for several years. She was very socially involved, and she enjoyed time with her friends at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.

Estell was lovingly known as "Neeno" to her two granddaughters, Rachel Maginn Rosser and Noelle Maginn Collier. She was always present, supportive, and cheered them on at sporting events, birthday parties, holidays, graduations, several sleepovers, their weddings, and the births of her three great-grandsons, Christopher Ryan Collier, Carter Dylan Collier, and Emmett Logan Rosser. Estell loved to dote on her granddaughters and great-grandsons, and doing so brought her immense joy. She would do anything for them, and she taught them to be kind, compassionate, and grateful.

Dementia is cruel and it robbed Estell of her clarity and memory in the last few years of her life. She was feisty and lived independently for several years before her condition advanced. Her family and friends lovingly cared for her till her mind became too confused and her body grew tired. She was eventually moved to a local nursing facility where she was made comfortable. COVID is a heartless disease. It robbed us of the opportunity to be by Estell's side when she passed away peacefully with hospice. We have so much empathy for others who are not able to be with their loved ones due to the pandemic, and we will be forever grateful for the wonderful nurse that stayed at her bedside till the end.

Due to gathering restrictions, our family will hold a small private graveside memorial at Egypt Cemetery in Blue Ball, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, we request memorial donations for the continued research into a cure for Alzheimer's go to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.  Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Cremation Services of Arkansas (501)313-5431