Mary Ann Flowers

Mary Annetta Bell (Thompson) Flowers, passed away on April 1, 2018 in Walnut Ridge. Her husband, Chuck Flowers, and other family were there with love and support during her passing. She was 82 years old. Mary Ann was born on January 14, 1936 in Wardell, MO, the daughter of Harry and Effie (Head) Bell, who preceded her in death. She had three older brothers, Bobby Jo and Sam Ed, who also preceded her, and Larry, and one sister, Hazel. She attended Wardell schools. She lived in Hayti until 1992 where she raised her four children and attended the Calvary Baptist Church. She married Bob Banks in 1953 and had one daughter, Jeanne Banks. When she and Aaron Thompson married in 1957 in Hayti, they created a blended family with Jeanne and Aaron’s son, Sonny Thompson. They completed the family with the addition of a son and daughter, Kevin Thompson and Juna Thompson. She and Chuck Flowers blended their families in 1989 once again. Mary Ann was a medical records professional for most of her working life. She worked at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital, first as a transcriptionist and finally as the Medical Records Director. She continued in the medical field when living in Mississippi as well. When she and Chuck moved to Walnut Ridge in 1998, she served as a legal secretary for several years. She was an active church member wherever she lived, singing in the choir and attending Sunday School. She attended the First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge. She is survived by her husband, Chuck Flowers of Walnut Ridge; her brother, Larry Bell (Loni) of Mesa, AZ, and her sister, Hazel Shrull of Sikeston, MO. Other survivors include her sons, Sonny Thompson (Tina) of Fairfield Bay, AR, Kevin Thompson (Carol) of Paragould, AR and Charles Flowers Jr (Tonya) of Brooklyn, AR; her daughters, Jeanne Banks (John Dickens) of Placitas, NM, Juna Penney (Henry) of Anchorage, AK and Carla Smith (Scott) of Jonesboro, AR. She was loved by fifteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren with one more on the way. She also had many nieces and nephews who were important in her life. Mary Ann leaves an amazing legacy with her family. Mary Ann will be remembered by her classmates and by the members of the First Baptist Church as a born leader, organizing church activities, class reunions and just about everything she touched. She loved sports, especially the St Louis Cardinals, and was an athlete for most of her life, playing softball, basketball, and bowling. The Cardinals have lost their most avid fan! Services for Mary Ann will be on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Walnut Ridge. Visitation will be 11:00am-12:30pm, followed by the funeral at 12:30pm with Pastor Jake Geunrich and Pastor Brent Thompson officiating. Pallbearers will be Dale Stratton, Bob McNeal, Phillip Tolson, J.R. Cox, Randy Clements and Chris Thompson. Honorary Pallbearers are her Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge and her Graduating Class of 1953 Wardell High. Interment will follow in the Austin Cemetery in Walnut Ridge. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Food Bank @ First Baptist Church, PO Box 547, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476. Online Registry www.bryanfh.com

Mary Ann Flowers

January 14, 1936 - April 1, 2018