Grace Axelia McElhannon Whittaker, 91, of Bentonville, Arkansas, went to be with her Savior, whom she had faithfully served all of her life. The youngest of nine children, she was born on March 30, 1934, in Cokato, Minnesota, to Rev. Axel B. and Martha Lundell Ost. During her teenage years, Papa Ost was called to the mission field in Mexico, and the family moved to McAllen, Texas. Grace attended Prairie Bible College in Canada, and earned her RN degree in Houston with her best friend, Elverna Nelson. After graduating, Grace met and fell in love with Calvin McElhannon. They married and had four children - Martha, Betty, Karen, and Mark. Love was the foundation of their home, and that love and joy multiplied with each grandchild and great-grandchild. Their faith in God and prayer carried them through many storms of life. Grace loved to laugh, tell funny jokes, and sing silly songs like "Don Gato", and "Lonely Little Petunia". She was a practical joker, life with Grace was never boring. She had a sparkling mind, spoke English, Spanish, and some Swedish, was well read and a quick study. She had a soft heart for people that needed help, was generous, and always concerned about the mission field, and sharing Jesus with others. Grace was a hard worker, a devoted mother, and good at finding bargains. She loved animals, and had many pets over the years including birds, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, tropical fish, etc. Everyone loved her Swedish coffee bread, pancakes, meatballs and banana bread. She loved tending the yard, planting flowers and a vegetable garden. In the evenings, you could find her and Cal on the front porch swing together. After Cal died in 2004, Grace met Vern Whittaker. After they married, they became "winter Texans" and went on cruises. They had almost ten years together before God called Vern home. Grace was very loved by her family and those who knew her, and will be deeply missed. It won't be long before we will be there with her in the presence of Jesus; but for now, we put one foot in front of the other and continue to run our race as she did. We look forward to seeing her again one day, at the feet of Jesus. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by eight siblings.

She is survived by three daughters, Martha Wong and her husband, Kim, Betty Weiss, Karen Pernudi and her husband, Mauricio; son, Mark McElhannon and his wife, Leandra; fifteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren along with numerous other beloved family and friends.

A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 20, 2025, at Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with Chaplain Bill Skaggs officiating. In memory of Grace, the family requests memorials be made to Christian Fellowship Union , P.O. Box 909, McAllen, TX 78505.

We will gather for fellowship and food from 4:30 p.m. to 6: 00 p.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, at First Baptist Church LYC building in Bentonville (204 S. Main St.) All are welcome to come.

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith". 2 Timothy 4:7

"Well done, good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord". Matthew 25:23

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain…"  Revelation 21:4