Mary Ruth Mccourt Love Thomas

Mary Ruth McCourt Love Thomas, 85, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed from this life on July 7, 2015, from a bout with pneumonia. Mary spent the past 3 years in the Little Rock area. She previously had lived for 44 years in Northeast Arkansas

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Emerson Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. July 14, 2015 at Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Michael Meredith of the Center Hill Church of Christ in Paragould, Arkansas will be officiating. Visitation will be held at 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. July 13, 2015 at Emerson Funeral Home. Burial will follow the funeral service at Pine Log Cemetery in Brookland, Arkansas. Pallbears will be her grandsons: David Miller, Robert Fry, Matthew Baker, Steven DeWitt, Michael DeWitt, Blake Cobb, Blaine Fry.

Mary was born in Odell, Texas on February 12, 1930. She graduated from Havana High School on May 20, 1948. She attended Arkansas Teachers College (UCA) in Conway, Arkansas, Wayland Business College in Plainview, Texas and H & R Block Tax School in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
She was married to Antone ‘Bud’ Love on November 28, 1952 in Clovis, New Mexico and John Thomas on July 2, 1991 in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Mary worked as a bookkeeper for the Lake City Lumber Company for several years and prepared individual tax returns. In her early adult life she worked as a dental assistant to Dr. Curtis M. Baldwin and as a telephone switchboard operator in Plainview, Texas. She learned to play the piano as a child taking lessons from Mrs. Thomas (Lorraine) Hayes. She sewed for the public for many years. She enjoyed sewing and needlework. She was also actively involved in the Lake City Seniors Citizens Program and a member of the Church of Christ.
Her survivors include one brother, John (Linda) of Havana, Arkansas; four daughters: Debbie (Gerald) Baker of Glendale, Arizona; Gloria Miller of Little Rock, Arkansas; Christine DeWitt of Conway, Arkansas; Carolyn Fry of New Boston, Texas; six stepchildren: John Thomas of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Barbara Ishmael and Judy Kirshner of Nashville, Tennessee, Peggy Lafon of Fort Worth, Texas, Paul Thomas of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Doug Thomas of Las Cruces, New Mexico; nine grandchildren: David (Stephanie) Miller of Benton, Arkansas; Robert Fry Jr. of New Boston, Texas; Richard Matthew Baker of Glendale, Arizona; Steven DeWitt and Michael DeWitt of Ft. Worth, Texas; Stephanie (Brandon) Decker of Monette, Arkansas; Jera Beth Cobb of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Blake Cobb of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Blaine Fry of Manila, Arkansas; and four great grandchildren: Jaxton, Nash and Myla Decker of Monette, Arkansas and Noah Fry of Manila, Arkansas and several nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her husbands Antone “Bud” Love and John Thomas; her parents, Edgar and Ida Lou McCourt; one daughter, Melinda Beth Cobb; one son-in-law, Robert Fry, one stepdaughter, Brenda Clark; two brothers, Bill Mc Court and Melvin McCourt and two sisters; Edna Belle Wiseman and Emma Lou Yerby.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Paragould Children’s Home. The family of Mary Ruth McCourt Love Thomas wish to thank the staff at The Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and Nursing Home and UAMS for the excellent care given to her.