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Submitted: 8/10/19 • Approved: 8/28/19 • Last Updated: 8/31/19 • R1274998-G1274998-S3
November 29, 1933 - December 30, 2017
*Obituary
Mary Ellen Wilson-LaBua, 84 of Magnolia, Arkansas passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Magnolia Health and Rehabilitation Center in Magnolia.
She was born on November 29, 1933 in Village, Arkansas to the late Homer Vern Wilson and Ellen Wheeler (Burchfield) Wilson. She was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her children’s father, Jack John LaBua and an infant daughter Mary Ellen LaBua.
Mary Ellen graduated from Magnolia High School in 1951. She was crowned and held the titles of Miss Magnolia and Columbia County Fair Queen both in 1952 and competed in the Miss Arkansas pageant. She moved to New York City and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1954, and at this time she competed and won Miss New York City Pageant and competed for Miss New York. While living in New York City she worked for CBS Network for two years. Mary Ellen married Jack John LaBua in 1957 and graduated from Stoney Brook University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology/Sociology, and Professional Counseling in 1979. She returned to Arkansas and received her Master’s from Southern Arkansas University and was a nationally accredited licensed professional counselor. She worked at South Arkansas Community College where she taught classes in Psychology, Sociology and Marriage and Family Counseling for many years until her retirement.
Mary Ellen is survived by her son Jack C. LaBua of Magnolia, Arkansas; daughter Marisa Ellen LaBua of Prescott, Arkansas; two brothers, Tom Wilson and wife Marilyn of Menifee, California, Stephen Wilson of Minden, Louisiana; a grandson Brandon C. LaBua and Ericka Green of Magnolia; one great grandson, Brodie Carson LaBua and his sister Mackenzie Mayberry of Magnolia; and two special family friends, Debbie Vaughn of Magnolia and Stephen Gooden of Springdale, Arkansas.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 3, 2017 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Father Robert Cigainero officiating. Burial will follow at Magnolia Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia. A Catholic Rosary and visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening beginning at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Jack LaBua, Brandon LaBua, Stephen Wilson, Billy Callison, Lynn Thomas and Don Couvillon.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2114 North Jackson, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753.
Contributed on 8/10/19 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1274998