Prairie Grove Native Wills Money To Library, School

A Prairie Grove native who loved books, school and traveling left $100,000 in her will to Prairie Grove Public Library and Prairie Grove School District.

Last week, both received $50,000 from the Helen McKee Littleton Trust. Littleton died March 4 in Broken Arrow, Okla., and was buried in Illinois Chapel Cemetery outside Prairie Grove.

"She was a proliferate reader and loved to read," said her niece, Marquetta Feltner, who lives near Columbia, Mo. "She just thought this would be a good thing to give her money to."

The donation to the city will be earmarked for library expansion, said Christine Kelly, city treasurer.

Mayor Sonny Hudson said he did not know much about Littleton but was appreciative of her donation.

"I think it's fantastic," Hudson said. "With the fact that the library is in need of expansion and we're looking at ways to expand, that's going to help considerably."

Ann Dunham, school district treasurer, said the school has named the gift after Littleton.

Superintendent Allen Williams said he understands the money is to go to Prairie Grove High and that Littleton wanted some of it to be used for the library. He said he probably would call Littleton's niece to talk to her personally to ask for additional direction on using the money.

"The district is certainly very appreciative of the gift," Williams said.

Littleton, who was 90 years-old when she passed away, graduated as class salutatorian from Prairie Grove High in the 1940s. Feltner wasn't sure of the exact year. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., worked for the Pentagon Naval Department and then moved to Guam where her husband was stationed.

She later moved to Tulsa and graduated from the University of Tulsa in June 1974. She lived in the Tulsa area most of her life, working 30 years for Badger Meter. She returned often to visit her parents, Garland and Florence McKee, and other family members in Prairie Grove.

"She still had fond memories of the little town of Prairie Grove," Feltner said.

Littleton traveled extensively, taking a trip overseas every year, Felter said. She also loved to go to the theater.

Littleton had four siblings who also graduated from Prairie Grove. Her sister, Willene Self of Okmulgee, Okla., said Littleton "just loved books, school and education so everything she left went to a school or a library."

In addition to Prairie Grove Library and the school district, Littleton also left money to the University of Arkansas (her husband's alma mater) and Illinois Chapel Church.