Violet Brumley Hensley Obituary, YELLVILLE, Ark. — Violet Brumley Hensley, the beloved “Whittlin’ Fiddler” known for her handmade fiddles, old-time music and decades of work preserving Ozarks traditions, died Friday, August 7, 2026, in Yellville, Arkansas. She was 109.
Hensley was born October 21, 1916, near Mount Ida, Arkansas, and grew up in a log cabin. Her connection to traditional Ozarks culture began early, as her father, George Washington Brumley, taught her woodworking and fiddle making. She learned to play the fiddle in her youth and eventually developed a reputation for crafting instruments by hand using traditional methods.
After marrying Adren Hensley and raising nine children, Violet returned to fiddle making and music later in life. The family eventually settled in Yellville, where she became closely associated with the region’s musical and cultural traditions. Her interest in the craft was encouraged by folk singer and promoter Jimmy Driftwood, who helped inspire her to pursue her abilities as a musician and fiddle maker.
Hensley’s connection with Silver Dollar City began around 1970, according to information shared following her death. She remained associated with the Branson, Missouri, attraction for decades, becoming a familiar figure to visitors and an important representative of Ozarks folk culture. She was known not only for making fiddles but also for playing music, storytelling, teaching and sharing traditional skills with others.
Her career eventually brought her recognition well beyond Arkansas and the Ozarks. She appeared on programs including The Beverly Hillbillies, Captain Kangaroo and Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, and she represented Arkansas at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, making her debut there at age 99 and later returning to the historic stage.
Hensley was recognized for her contributions to traditional arts and music, including being named an Arkansas Living Treasure by the Arkansas Arts Council in 2004. She was also inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame in 2018. Her work and influence helped preserve traditional fiddle making and mountain music for generations, while her long association with Silver Dollar City made her one of the best-known practitioners of Ozarks folk traditions.
Those who knew Hensley have continued to share memories of her kindness, humor, musical talent and dedication to her craft following news of her death. Friends and admirers have remembered a woman who continued contributing to the traditions she loved well into her hundreds. Her life also inspired people who encountered her through music, television appearances, Silver Dollar City and her work as a teacher and craftsman.
Violet Brumley Hensley leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning more than a century, including her family, handmade instruments, music, stories and the generations of people she influenced. Her dedication to preserving Ozarks heritage ensured that traditional fiddle making and old-time music remained connected to the communities and people who carried those traditions forward. She will be remembered as a distinctive and enduring figure in Arkansas and Ozarks culture. Funeral arrangements were reported as pending through Roller-Burns Funeral Home in Yellville.
