Mary Dell Coleman

Mary was born to Sarah and Talmadge Paxton on November 17, 1944 in El Dorado. She was the youngest of two children. She spent her childhood in Huttig and in Shreveport, LA. On February 28, 1968, she married John David Coleman, the love of her life and partner for more than 55 years. Together they lived in Laurel, MS, Haynesville, LA and El Dorado before settling in Strong, Arkansas in the mid-1970s, where they made their home and raised their family. John preceded her in death in 2022.

Mary was a woman of remarkable determination, grit, and independence. Her husband affectionately nicknamed her "Goat Head" because he said her head was as hard as a billy goat's. She was never afraid of hard work and did whatever was needed for her family. Over the years, she drove a cement truck, handled bookkeeping for the family business, and approached every challenge with confidence and resolve.

A devoted public servant, Mary dedicated countless hours to improving her community. She served as a Justice of the Peace on the Union County Quorum Court for 1995-2005 and was actively involved in numerous civic organizations and boards. Her service included leadership as President of the New London Water Board and membership on the 13th Judicial District Criminal Detention Facility Review Board and the Union County Water Conservation Board, as well as Treasurer of the New London Cemetery. In 2012 she was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to serve on the Ouachita River Commission, with her term expiring in 2020.

Mary was a member of the First Baptist Church of Strong and a generous supporter of many causes close to her heart, including Union County Animal Protection Society, Life Touch Hospice, Ouachita Baptist University and Wings to Recovery.

While Mary loved serving her community, her greatest joys were found closer to home. She cherished her flowers, loved caring for her birds, and enjoyed spending time along the Ouachita River. She delighted in decoration for Halloween to the extreme, complete with large inflatable skeletons and monsters, and she never missed an opportunity to celebrate a birthday, believing every year of life was worth honoring regardless of age.

Mary as preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her older brother, Allen Paxton. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Tracey White (Randy) and Kelli Gathright (Ted); her grandchildren, Camille Gathright, Hayden Latimer (Carter) , Dustin Gathright (Megan), and Reid Gathright (Alexis Bougher); her great-grandchildren, Jackson, Audrey, Makinlee, and Holden; her sister-in-law, Dolores Paxton; and her beloved four-legged companion Xena.

Mary will be remembered for her strength of character, generous heart, quick wit, dry humor, steadfast faith, and unwavering devotion to her family and community. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the community she served, and the family she lived so deeply.

A Celebration of Life for Mary will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Strong. Visitation with family will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to New London Cemetery Fund, % Merri Holt, 3361 New London Road, Strong, AR 71765 or to UCAPS, P. O. Box 264, El Dorado, AR 71730.

Online condolences may be expressed for the Coleman family at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.