Louise Sewell Heinrichs

She is survived by her husband, Edward; five children: Michael Heinrichs of Houston, Tex.; Ann Heinrichs of Chicago, Ill.; Susan Gray (Michael) of Cabot, Ark.; Jane Heinrichs of Seattle, Wash.; Stephen Heinrichs (Dianne) of Fort Smith; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her sister, Frances Minden.

Louise was a violinist in the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra for many years. As a teenager in the 1930s, she and her sister, a pianist, broadcast a live radio show on KFPW every Saturday morning, playing the tunes of the day. Louise also had a weekly radio show giving movie reviews.

After her kids were grown, Louise obtained a degree in painting and art history from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The walls in the family home were filled with her paintings of landscapes and flowers. Louise loved flowers and took great pride in her gardening. Perfect strangers sometimes stopped to admire the flowers in front of the house.

In keeping with her own outlook, Louise instilled in her children a love of music, art, and the exquisite beauties of nature.

After Ed retired, he and Louise traveled extensively. They explored many countries in Europe and Central America, visited the Holy Land, and toured throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitation and rosary will be held Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. at Fentress Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery

Pallbearers will be Joe, Ben, and David Heinrichs, Michael Gray, and John Lindquist.