Mary Lou Cooley Rose, 89, of North Little Rock was born in South Fulton, Tennessee on July 23, 1931 to Jewel Marie and Tillman Cooley. She graduated from South Fulton High School where she was on the newspaper staff. She married Ray R. Rose on July 23, 1949, and they moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1954. They were married for 48 years before he preceded her in death in 1998. She is also preceded by her mother and father, brother, Lois Brockwell and many cousins and friends.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory daughter, Kathy Rose Kemp; son, Kenneth L. Rose (Tina); grandchildren, Matt Kemp (Stephanie), Allison Rose Smith (Blake), Ronnie Rose (Kc), Autumn Rose Fidler (Tim); great grandchildren, Luke Smith, Will Kemp, Isabella Rose, Whitmen Rose, Abby Fidler and Jackson Fidler; sister, Gail Meadows (Glen) and several nieces and nephews.
Mary Lou worked at Timex and Kroger Warehouse before she and Ray became owners of ArkCrete Block Company in North Little Rock. She volunteered at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Youth Home Thrift Store and was active in garden clubs, bowling leagues, and Shriner Trackerettes. Mary loved to travel, shop, go to garage sales, play poker and bingo. But most of all, she loved her family. Ball games, dance recitals, weekly family meals and holiday gatherings were her favorites. She was a founding member of Levy Church of Christ over sixty years ago when it began in the Legion Hut in Levy.
The family would like to thank the staff at Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation for providing loving care for Mom for the last several years and especially during this difficult time. We would also like to thank Kindred Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Levy Church of Christ or Alzheimer’s Association.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11:30 am, Tuesday, December 29th at the Gazebo in Rest Hills Memorial Park, 7724 Landers Road, NLR. The service will be live streamed on Facebook through link https://www.facebook.com/Griffin-Leggett-Rest-Hills-Funeral-Home-110857847245059/.
