Ann H. Dillon Campbell

Anna Ray was the fourth child of nine children to be born unto Joe and Edith Ray. Born on December 25th, 1929, she not only shared a birthday with Jesus, but also with her older brother, Bob. Spending her childhood days growing up at #10 in Clay, Kentucky, she was always proud to be a coal miner’s daughter. If you’ve ever heard Loretta Lynn’s song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” you’ve heard the anthem of her childhood.

When she was 16, her family moved to Arkansas for work. While living in Arkansas, she met her first husband, Cotton Dillon. They were married on December 31, 1946, soon after her seventeenth birthday.

Cotton and Ann, also known to many as MaMaw and PaPaw, spent many years together making a lifetime of memories and Arkansas became her home, although she was always a “Kentucky Girl” at heart.

MaMaw was a beacon, always letting her light shine for God. She spent her entire life spreading the word and love of God wherever she went. Her life revolved around Christ, her children and grandchildren. She was proud to serve in her community any way she could. She spent many years working as a ward secretary and messenger before retiring from Arkansas Methodist Hospital. Watching the hospital grow and change over the years from Community Hospital to Arkansas Methodist Hospital to AMMC, she felt at home there and wanted to continue to serve others. She volunteered her time as an Auxiliary Lady for more than a decade. In the mid 80’s she volunteered at The Mission Outreach. During this service to her community, she and Pa became foster parents. While raising her children and helping with her grandchildren, she also had an in home daycare. Full of love, she was always willing to help someone in need. MaMaw loved going to church, singings and was an active member of the Senior BEES Club.

Departing this earthly home, MaMaw went home to be with Jesus on October 17, 2018 at the age of 88 years young.

Greeting her in heaven are her parents; along with her brother, Bob; sisters Mary, Wanda, Hilda and Betty; father of her children, Cotton; her late husband, Tony; along with many other friends, cousins, nieces and nephews. What a celebration that will be!

Ann is survived by her best friend and husband of five years, Eric Campbell; her children, Wayne Dillon and Teresa Foster; her sisters, Marsha Herzog and Sarah Ray; her brother, Larry Ray; 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren, along with a host of extended family and friends.

Pallbearers will be John Dillon, Jody Dillon, Jathan Dillon, Ryan Gambill, Matt Fowler and Larry Ray.

The family would like to invite you to her going home celebration on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Phillips Funeral Home. Visitation for friends will begin at 1:00 PM, services will begin at 2:00 PM, officiated by Josh Carpenter. Burial will follow at Cardwell Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.