Birtha Nellie Mae (Dean) Lyle, “Nel Mae, of Batesville, Arkansas passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026, at her home at the age of 88.

Born on August 4, 1937, in Pocahontas, Arkansas to Zaniel Franklin Dean and Martha Arite (Burgess) Dean. Nellie grew up in the rural Pocahontas area before moving to Bloomington, Illinois, where she met the love of her life, Paul Edward (Dale) Lyle.

Nellie is survived by her children, Kathy Lynn (Ronnie) Evans, Allen Kelly Lyle, Amy Lynn Courter, Becky Lynn (Curtis) Collins, Jennifer Lynn (Jim) Morgan; 16 grandchildren, Shane, Amber, Ashley, Amanda, DJ, Cody, Dylan, Maddy, Sarah, Drew, Cassandra, Caitlin, Whitney, Christian, Micayla, and Gabrielle and 23 great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings include Wayne (Ann) Dean, Joyce (Joe) Ball, Jerry (Slora) Dean, Jeral (Kathy) Dean, Diane (Gene) Cullom, Danny (Becky) Dean, Carol Sue (Shay) Carpenter, and Randy (Rhonda) Dean.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Lyle; father, Zan Dean; mother, Martha Dean; her brothers, Bob Dean and Timothy Dean; her son, Danny Lyle; daughter-in-law, Pam Lyle; granddaughter, Ellyn Kate Lyle, and an infant child.

Nellie came to faith as a young child, serving in church as she moved from Arkansas to Illinois, to Kentucky, and finally back home again, and is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior, who she loved with all her heart.

For many years Nellie served as a switchboard operator at General Telephone, a stay-at-home wife and mother, and operated a successful in-home daycare, before returning to General Telephone from where she eventually retired.

A Celebration of Life for Nellie Mae Lyle will be held Saturday, May 16, at Elnora Freewill Baptist Church, 6983 US-67, Pocahontas, AR 72455.

Family visitation will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 AM followed by visitation open to all from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The memorial service will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 PM with a graveside service to follow at Randolph Memorial Gardens, Highway 67 S Pocahontas, AR 72455

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Shane Evans, Christian Thomas, Drew Causey, Chase West, and nephews Bobby and Jeff Dean.

Honorary pallbearers are JR Benson and Hunter Bennett.

Arrangements are under the direction of McNabb Funeral Home.