Daniel “Fig” Elliott, 66, of Fayetteville and Gilbert, died peacefully on Thursday, June 28, 2016 at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock after a courageous battle with cancer.
Fig was born to Elsie P. Murphy and the late Frank M. Elliott, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Elvie B. Elliott, his mother, Elsie P. Murphy, brothers Frank M. Elliott, Jr., and Harry P. Elliott (Ellen), niece Holly Elliott and numerous beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank M. Elliott, Sr., stepmother, Almeda Elliott, stepfather, Frank Murphy, and stepbrother, Bobby Murphy.
Fig was a long-time resident of Gilbert. He loved the Buffalo River and gardening. He never met a stranger and went through life with a twinkle in his eye. He also enjoyed traveling extensively on a budget; no one could make a dollar go further! He opened his home in Gilbert to foreign exchange students and operated the Ozark International Hostel so visitors could enjoy the area he loved so much. He served on the board of the Firehouse Hostel and Museum in Little Rock. He participated in mission trips to Honduras to help the poor in Central America with the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Fayetteville. Fig graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in journalism.
Fig was a long-time fan of Greasy Greens and a welcome visitor to the band’s home base at the Art Farm in Little Rock and gigs in Eureka Springs.
The day before his death he visited with former Eureka Springs Times-Echo editor Jim Keary who said, “I saw him Wednesday when he was still at UAMS and he was going down fast and he knew it. He told me ‘I’m down for the count.’ He still had his humor and his memory. He talked about his wonderful life.”
Memorials can be made to the Firehouse Hostel and Museum, 1201 Commerce St., Little Rock, AR 72202. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Arkansas Cremation.