Ellen Lynch Unger

Ellen Lynch Unger, age 86, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on March 7, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on January 21, 1940, in Charleston, Illinois, to Robert and Virginia Lynch, she graduated from Memorial Hospital Nursing School in Springfield, Illinois, in 1965. She later attended St. John’s College of Nursing and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Ellen devoted many years to her nursing career before retiring. She found joy in cooking, sewing, and crocheting, but cherished above all the time she spent with her family. A longtime member of St. Edwards Catholic Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, she and her husband Steve ran the Outreach Center there for many years.

Ellen met the love of her life, Steve Unger, and after a brief courtship they married on December 30, 1964, in Madison, Indiana. They shared 58 devoted years together. She was a warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend who had a gift for making everyone around her feel like the most important person in her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve Unger, her parents, Robert and Virginia Lynch, and her brother, Thomas Dean Lynch.

Ellen is survived by her children, Margaret McGranahan and fiancé Blaine Chandler of Boise, Idaho, son-in-law Tim McGranahan of Boise, Idaho, Mary Beth (Sean) Womack of Cave Springs, Arkansas, Michael (Jennifer) Unger of Texarkana, Texas, and bonus son Ronnie (Nadine) Hankins of Merritt Island, Florida; nine grandchildren, Erin (Kyle) Gallagher, Rachel McGranahan, Elissa (Andrew) Morren, Ian (Eileen) McGranahan, Matt McGranahan, Daniel Womack (fiancée Delaney Edwards), Ellen (Connor) Court, Tyler Unger, and Rebecca Unger; six great-grandchildren, Lilly, Rose, Aspen, Brooks, Burton, and Truett; and many nieces and nephews.