Nellie Lee Ard, 89, Phoenix, Ariz., died after a brief illness on Thursday April 7, 2011. Born to Joseph and Donna Bowen on Oct. 18, 1921, in Elsmore, Nellie, known to all as Lee, moved to the Phoenix area in 1944 and took a job as “Rosie the Riveter” in the defense industry, and later worked in the computer industry as quality control inspector.

A devoted wife and mother, she enjoyed quilting, arts and crafts, cards, cooking, sewing. and spending time with family and friends.

Lee married Dewey C. Ard in 1938. She was the beloved mother of five, Darrell, Delores, Deborah, Jon, and Stephen. Lee and Dewey were married for 65 years until his death in 2004. Lee was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Deborah. Lee is survived by a brother, Carl Bowen and wife, Darlene, a sister-in-law Joyce Mapp, three sons, Darrell and wife, Joanne, Jon and wife, Georgia, and Stephen; a daughter, Delores Wright and husband, Raymond, son-in-law Terry Cheney; 15 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews with fond memories of Aunt Lee, co-workers, and friends. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Best Funeral Services - North Central Chapel, 501 East Dunlap, Phoenix, Ariz. Graveside services will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, on Monday at 10:30 a.m. Contributions in may be sent to the American Cancer Society.