Mary Lucille Hollister

Mary L. Hollister’s life journey began in 1926 and her healthiest, happiest years in Arkansas lasted until about 2010. For about 64 of those years, Mary looked out on a gorgeous view of the Ouachita Mountains from the “Hilltop” in Huntington, Arkansas. Mary died September 19, 2017 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri where she resided since early 2012 after a hip break and other health conditions required her to be nearer family.

At age 20, Mary married James (Jim) Hollister in August 1946. Jim and Mary’s only child, Brenda Basham, helped arrange the transition from Huntington where Mary had lived alone following Jim’s death in 2003. Early in her great years, Mary enjoyed being a high schooler who played on the Mansfield, Arkansas girls basketball team that proudly placed second in the state championship during World War II. That accomplishment, including a cold pickup bed ride to the tournament, survived strongly in Mary’s recollection of life’s highlights. She graduated in the class of 1944 during the World War II period of sacrifice. Later she received medical health service training.

The Huntington Methodist Church was the annual site of a most cherished family and community event. Jim and Mary helped anchor the church’s wonderful celebration every Christmas Eve. Jim performed as the most realistic Santa Claus his family can recall, and he never failed to grandly delight his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all the church members with the heartiest “ho-ho-ho!” Memories of those years vividly survive to make Arkansas Christmas Eve’s the most unique for Mary’s family.

Jim and Mary created a grand home atmosphere every Christmas season. Family gatherings were accented by the aroma of home cooking, excellent pies crafted by Mary’s exquisite cooking talents (while she remained forever slender), huge piles of Christmas gifts that were bestowed without restraint, and the warmest welcomes that are so rich for families blessed with only one child. Plus, summer family visits were rewarded by the world’s best fried chicken from Mary’s kitchen, and of course the finest endings meant homemade ice cream in Arkansas shade.

Mary regularly recounted special times with siblings, her parents, and favorite nephews and nieces. The local coal mining industry produced vivid historical recollections; in part because mining accidents took away members of Mary’s family. Mary sustained strong faith and a great respect for President Harry S. Truman. Her life was enriched by work at the Huntington Seaman’s Department Store and by a long career at the Whirlpool factory in Fort Smith, Arkansas. During less than a year of residence in California, Mary and husband, Jim became convinced that Arkansas is the only place to be.

Closest surviving family members include one daughter, Brenda Basham and her husband, Dale of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; two granddaughters, Stephanie Gavin and husband, Stafford and Laura Frees and husband, Karl; four great grandchildren, Claire and Charlotte Gavin and Henry and George Frees.

Graveside service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, September 23 at Huntington Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Friday from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Greenwood Free Will Baptist Church, where the family will visit with friends.

To sign an online guest book, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com