Mary Virginia Lee

Mary is survived by her daughters; Ella Clardy (Roland) of Hiwasse, Thelma MacLaine of Tustin, California, Pamela Kindle (Haskell) of Proctor, OK, and Mary J. Connolly (Leroy) of Rogers; and grandchildren Pam, Larry, Sophia, Raina, Rochelle, David, Timothy, Elisha, Allen, Alessandro, Mary Catherine, Zachariah, Levi, Sarah, and Ezekiel; 22 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren and 3 more on the way. She is also survived by brothers; J.W. Grigg of Harrisonville, MO, J.T. and Ronald Grigg of Huntsville, AR and Fred Grigg Jr. of Springdale, AR, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Kenneth Grigg; sister Betty Joyce Adams; and daughters Bertha Faye McClain and Theresa Shepherd.

Though Mary never received her high school diploma, she did receive a State Board County teaching certificate and would teach for a number of years in small communities in Madison county.

After living in Madison county, Mary would move to Benton county and then on to Wichita, Kansas where she worked for Stephen’s dairy making ice cream.

Mary moved her girls back to in Arkansas in 1965 and took a job as a waitress at Sands restaurant in Rogers. She would spend the next 55+ years making this a life-long career working at Sands, Holiday Inn, Hiway Host, Lakeside Café, B.J.’s Donuts and finally Wesner’s Grill. She was a hard worker and could often be found working more than one job at a time. She loved people and her customers would become a big extended family to her.

Mary shared her generous heart with her girls, her grandchildren, many friends, and many families and children in need. She shopped and bargain hunted all year long so that no one was forgotten at Christmas. She had a way of making everyone feel loved and extra special. Her grandchildren would come to love the red heart candy birthday cakes they often received.

Mary loved flowers and could always be found working in her yard. She truly had a “green” thumb as she could make things grow using sticks and cardboard instead of soil.

She also loved square dancing and was active with a club for many years until the death of her dearly loved dancing partner, Frank.

Mary was passionate about our right to vote. She would work the polls every year and understood how important that it was for us to exercise that right. She would often ask, “Are you were registered to vote and do you know where your polling place is?” She would tell you how important each election was.

She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and this world.

A private family visitation was held at Rollins Funeral on Saturday, October 17th followed by burial at the Lower Campground Cemetery in Marble, Arkansas.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.