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Submitted: 11/19/20 • Approved: 11/19/20 • Last Updated: 6/30/23 • R1351931-G1351930-S3
February 12, 1930 - December 1, 2016
Mary Dell Wren, 86, of El Dorado, passed away December 1, 2016 after an extended illness at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home. Born on February 12, 1930 she was the daughter of Georgia Hughes James and David Randolph James of El Dorado. Her mother, Georgia died when Mary Dell was 12 years old. Later her father married Alice Baucum James and Mary Dell was delighted.
Mary Dell was gifted in arts and crafts. She made dresses for her daughters and costumes (some elaborate) for her children and grandchildren. However, she hated sewing…so anything she made was a true gift of love. Gardening, flower arranging, and corsage-making were other talents. She loved hummingbirds. Friends and family gifted her with many figurines of hummingbirds. She was also known by friends and family for her delicious Mayhaw Jelly and Bread and Butter Pickles. She focused on giving her children the best life by volunteering as a room mother, scout leader, and chaperoning parties. She was truly a loving and dedicated mother.
She shared in the raising of one grandson (Odie Blackmon) and as she went on kidney dialysis, her greatest desire was to live long enough that his daughter Josie (her youngest great grandchild) would have a memory of her. We believe this was accomplished.
Mary Dell worked in child care most of her working life. She was a daycare director for the State of Arkansas and she worked for Bozeman Park School. She finished her career as the owner of El Do Plastics, Inc. She was a life member of the El Dorado Service League.
Preceding her in death were her parents and step-mother; one grandchild, Mary Wade, her oldest brother, D. R. James; her younger sister Susan James Christian, and her younger brother Mark James. She lost all of her siblings in 2016 making it a hard year knowing she was the only surviving one. She has now joined them.
Those left to cherish her memory are her three children Lynda Richardson (Gary), David Wren, and April Wren (Keith Rodgers) all of El Dorado; her grandchildren Odie Blackmon (Betsy) of Nashville, TN; Carrie Oswalt of El Dorado and Sean Wren (Ashley) of Knoxville, TN. as well as 9 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
The family would like to thank Hudson Memorial Nursing Home and the DaVita Dialysis Center who provided long-term care for her. Also, most appreciated was Dr. Prather and the outstanding staff of the Wound Care Center and Life Touch Hospice.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm. Until 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2016 ,at the Bailey Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be made to UCAPS, Life Touch Hospice, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Contributed on 11/19/20 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1351931