Nellie Diven, 85, of Jonesboro, AR, and former Griswold-Lewis resident died Thursday evening, August 21, 2008, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Nellie Frances Pace was born at Griswold, IA, on October 21, 1922, the daughter of Benjamin Addison and Mary Evaline (Cary) Pace. She graduated from Griswold High School in 1941 and on October 30, 1943, she married Lyle Ebert Diven at Hiawatha, KS. They lived at Lewis and while there; Nellie was very involved with the Lewis Activity Center and a member of the Lewis Congregational- Methodist Church. She and Lyle moved to Jonesboro in 1987 to be near their daughter's family. While there, Nellie volunteered as a Pink Lady for the St. Bernard's Hospital Auxiliary and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Nellie was a member of the Order of Eastern Star both at Lewis and Jonesboro and had received her 50-year pin. Following Lyle's death on March 18, 1994, Nellie moved to Southwind Heights Retirement Home in Jonesboro and when her health began to fail last fall, she moved to St. Elizabeth's Place Care Facility.

Nellie is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. John and Rosemary Ball of Jonesboro; her grandchildren: Benjamin Ball and his wife Terrie of Jonesboro and Cary Lynne Davis and her husband Mikel of Jonesboro; and her step great-grandchildren: Hannah and Trent Whitlock and Skyler Davis. Also surviving are two sisters: Marjorie White of Temple Hills, MD, and Marilee Shively of Arlington, VA.

Preceding Nellie in death were her parents, her husband, three brothers: George B. "Junior", Billy, and Ronald Pace and one sister, Leora Hubbard.

Graveside services will be Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM at the Oakwood Cemetery at Lewis. Open visitation will be Saturday after 12:00 noon at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold.