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Submitted: 11/18/22 • Approved: 11/21/22 • Last Updated: 11/24/22 • R1459130-G1459127-S3
August 26, 1936 - January 23, 2022
*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Thursday, January 26, 2022
Mary Ellen Perkins Thompson Burden, age 85, passed into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, welcomed by a host of loving family and friends on January 23, 2022. Mary Ellen was the daughter of Marcus Perkins and Mabel Green-Perkins and a lifelong resident of Decatur, Arkansas. She graduated from Decatur High School as valedictorian in 1954 and attended secretary school in Colorado. Mary Ellen retired from Peterson Farms after fifty years of service. After retirement, she and her husband, Howard Burden, worked part-time at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, where they retired after ten years and continued the rest of their time at their family home in Decatur, Arkansas. She was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church in Decatur for most of her life, serving in various roles such as church clerk and Sunday school teacher. Mary Ellen was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and will be missed dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, Lex Thompson, a special aunt, Eva James-Corey, brother, Ross Perkins and sister-in-law, Alma Perkins. She is survived by husband of 52 years, Howard Burden, two sons, Marc Burden and wife Terri of Decatur, Ark., and Jon Burden and wife Julie of Siloam Springs, Ark.; five grandchildren, Jayme Burden, Haley Burden, Colten Burden, Casey Burden, and Caden Burden; niece, Ronda Weeks and husband Terry; niece, Joni Thomas and husband Mike; and a host of extended family and friends.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Decatur, Arkansas, on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 10 a.m. To sign the online guest book, please visit: www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
*Obituary (Additional)
Westside Eagle Observer
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Contributed on 11/18/22 by wfields55
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Record #: 1459130