Mary Wilson

Mary Frances Wilson, 72, of Ward, Arkansas, went peacefully to be with the Lord on March 13, 2024, while surrounded by her family at home. Mary was born November 9, 1951, in Greenville, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Frank J. Battista and Bernice Battista. Mary graduated from Greenville High School in 1969, and later attended the University of Central Arkansas. She retired in 2013 after working for 37 years in the Little Rock Office of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 

Mary enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, whether by car, plane, on the back of motorcycles, or cruise ships. One of her favorite trips was a 15-day motorcycle trip to Maine and back to Arkansas. Mary was a big fan of NASCAR and loved attending races and getting to meet the drivers. She adored all her fur babies, both cats and dogs. She is missed badly by Nico and Dixie, her two dogs. 

She enjoyed gardening and raising flowers, especially her lilies, irises, her many varieties of daffodils, peonies, and sunflowers. She loved to sit outside and gaze at her flowers while watching the hummingbirds zoom to the feeders. 

Mary is survived by her husband, John Michael (Mike) Wilson; daughter Stephanie Zmudzinski (Robert) of Ward, daughter Sara Kirk (Petey) of Ward; granddaughter Dakota Kirk of Russellville; two sisters, Terrie Rains of West Memphis, and Tina Laughin of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; and one brother, Frank Battista, also of Ft. Walton Beach. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Gracie Thomason of Ft. Walton Beach. 

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 1:00 P.M., at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, adjacent to Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Drive, Beebe, AR 72012. Services entrusted to and conducted by Smith Westbrook Funeral Home. www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook.