Ida Mae Beason Sealy

Ida Mae Beason Sealy died peacefully September 29, 2022 at home with her

daughter, Karen, in Hot Springs. She was born October 29, 1931 in Antioch,

Arkansas to the late Mary and C. F. (Frank) Beason.

Ida Mae began her education at Little Hope School, in a one room schoolhouse.

She used kerosene lamps and candles to read and do her school-work before

electricity was extended to the Antioch community. Her family later moved to

Friendship where she met the love of her life, Rayvon Sealy. Ida Mae played girls

basketball for the Friendship Bulldogs. She graduated from Friendship High

School in May 1950 and two weeks following graduation, she married her high

school sweetheart, Rayvon, on May 27, 1950. She and Rayvon had a double

wedding ceremony with Jim and Lucille McMahan on the front porch of Pastor

Earl Page. Rayvon and Ida Mae celebrated their anniversary with Jim and Lucille

for years until health issues prevented the get togethers. Ida Mae and Rayvon

were married over 60 years until his death in 2010.

God, Family and Community were of most importance to Ida Mae. She took her

children to Sunday School, Church, Bible School and taught them to pray. She

was a homeroom mother for her children while they were in school and attended

basketball, softball, baseball, FHA, FFA, 4-H and any other events her children

were involved. She was always supportive of her family and made personal

sacrifices to ensure her children had what they needed. Ida Mae was a soft-

spoken lady. If you have every read Proverbs 31, that describes the woman she

was.

After her children were grown and had families, she received a special joy being a

grandmother. She delighted in taking care of her grandchildren when they were

young and then spending time with them as adults. Her great grandchildren and

great-great grandchildren brought her even more happiness.

She was retired from the Arkadelphia Human Development Center. She had a

special place in her heart for all the children there. She was a longtime member

of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Evelyn, her

brothers Howard, Aster, and Doyle Beason, her husband Rayvon Sealy, her son

Tony Sealy and one son-in-law, Jorge Garcia.

She is survived by her daughters Karen Sealy Garcia of Hot Springs, Rhonda Sealy

Thigpen (David) of Arkadelphia, Grandchildren Nick Matthews (Jamie) of

Friendship, Ken Matthews of Donaldson, Zane Thigpen of Arkadelphia, Sealy

Thigpen of Fayetteville, Jeff Garcia and Jennifer McEathron of Fairport NY, 11

great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, brother in-law Adron Sealy

(Lavern) of Malvern, sister-in-law Dorothy Sealy of Hot Springs, sister-in-law Carrie Sue Sealy,

and numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved also.

Memorial services will be Saturday October 1, 2022 at the Friendship Missionary Baptist

Church in Friendship at 10:00 a.m. with visitation at 9:00 a.m. Her nephew, Rev.

Randy Gaither will be officiating. Pallbearers are Robert Sealy, Carl Sealy, Troy

Sealy, Woody Gaither, Buddy Babb, Randy Hathcock, Michael Catlett, Wayne Sealy, and Donny

Cannon. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Ray Bollen and all the Arkansas Hospice

Staff that helped keep Ida Mae comfortable during her final days. Internment will

be held immediately following the service at Gilchrist Cemetery in Friendship.

Arrangements by Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Condolences to

the family can be made at http:www.ruggleswilcox.com.