Mary Danehower Howe Taylor, 89, died Oct. 25 in Little Rock
AR. Mary, known to her family as "Aunt Mary" and to
her friends and community as "Miss Mary", was a lifetime
resident of the Yocona Community in Forrest City. She is survived
by three children, Mary Nell Sparks (Chad) of Beebe, Pat Howe
(Jo) of Searcy, and Markham Howe (Gayle) of Little Rock. She is
also survived by eight grandchildren, Justin Sparks of West Point
(USMA) NY, Cindy Howe of Searcy AR, Jenny Boykin of Newnan GA,
Ben Howe of Fayetteville GA, Brian Howe of Los Angeles CA, Michael
Howe of Denver CO, Mark Howe of Little Rock, and Lisa Holbert
of Little Rock. She is also survived by one brother, Will Roe
Danehower of Arlington TX and a host of nieces and nephews who
were very important in her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Chester Danehower
and Nora Belle Cox Danehower, both of Forrest City, one sister
Azile Odom, and four brothers John Danehower, James Danehower,
Sam Danehower and David Danehower, all of Forrest City. Her husband,
Ben Howe, died in 1957.
Mary was a member of First Baptist Church in Forrest City,
where she prepared the Wednesday night supper for many years.
She most recently was a member of the "Happy Dayers"
and the TEL Sunday school class. She will also be remembered
as one of two founders of the "Kountry Kitchen" which
was a community based home-style restaurant operated each year
during the St. Francis County Fair, which she operated for over
36 years. She was a member of the St. Francis County Fair Board
and established the petting zoo at the fair. She worked with
the Agricultural Extension Service in St. Francis County and was
a 4-H leader for her community youth for many years. She was also
a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club for many
years.
She was a farmer and enjoyed being outside with her animals,
which she often shared with school children and neighborhood children
when they came for a "fun day" at the farm. She would
also entertain primary and elementary children by taking a lamb
to school to bottle-feed for the students.
Anyone who would like to send condolences to the family via
email may do so at auntmarymissmary@yahoo.com. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the First Baptist Church in Forrest City,
to the Arkansas State University Foundation Fund or to a charity
of choice.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 at Stevens Funeral Home in Forrest City AR. Burial will follow at Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Stevens.