MCCULLOUGH FORMBY, MARY - White County, Arkansas | MARY MCCULLOUGH FORMBY - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Mary MCCULLOUGH FORMBY

White County Memorial Gardens Cemetery
White County,
Arkansas

Mary
Sept 20, 1923 - Mar 2, 2017
Thomas Adrian, M D
Jan 12, 1921 - Aug 25, 2006

Mary Zathenia McCullough Formby was born in 1923 in Tupelo, MS. She passed from this life in March 2017 in Searcy. In the tradition of the female side of her family, she was named for her grandmothers. She was raised in a God-fearing home. Social graces were important but even more so directness and honesty coupled with loving kindness. Growing up on a dairy farm she knew the value and honor of hard work. Mary was a precocious child beginning school at age four and college at age 16.

She attended Harding College where she met the man who was to become her husband, but more importantly her greatest friend and life companion, Thomas Adrian Formby of Waldo. They were apart during the war years, he serving his country in Europe, and she working for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Alabama. On his return from WWII, they were married and moved to Searcy, then to Little Rock where Tom began medical school and Mary worked at National Old Line Life Insurance Company.

Mary and Tom moved back to Searcy in 1953 where Tom went into practice in family medicine. Mary ran a busy home that now included three daughters, Margaret, Rachel, and Leah. She was active in her daughters' upbringing and education. Mary was the central organizing factor for the family. She became the family business person.

Mary was also active in the community as a member of the Beethoven Music Club, a charter member of both Greenkeepers Garden Club and Associated Women for Harding. She worked actively with Tom in supporting the founding of White County Hospital, now Unity Health. She also served on a city committee that resulted in Searcy being named an ''All American City''.

A member of the College Church of Christ since 1953, she used her talents hosting with her husband small groups, newcomers, missionaries, and those in need in her home. She enjoyed Ladies Bible Class for many years. In recent years her prayer group was a major support to her. As her health failed and she was unable to attend, her prayer group was faithful to continue to include her. A woman of quiet faith, she felt it was more important to do things to help others, not merely talk about it and to do it such a way that the source of the help was unknown.

She loved reading, travel, politics, gardening, music and following the stock market. She never tired of learning and encouraged it in all of her family members. She was a loyal and faithful friend and never failed to keep up with her family particularly with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, Thomas Adrian Formby, MD.

Left to treasure her love and memories in their hearts are her daughters, Margaret Nell (Leon) Blue; Mary Rachel (Jim) Dowdy and Leah Adrian (Tom) Justus. Her grandchildren, Matthew Formby (Amanda) Blue; Mary-Margaret Blue (Todd) Watson; Sarah Justus (Scott) Saunders; Mary Helen Justus (James) Cox; and Kieran (Julie) Dowdy. Her great-grandchildren, Averie, Meredith, and Everett Blue; Anna, Toby, and Evan Watson; Zachary and Drew Saunders; Emma and Jonah Cox and Nora Dowdy, as well as her sister in law, Lanier McCullough, her nieces, nephews and friends.
The family appreciates in particular her caregivers Shirley Guthrie, Crystal Nicholson, and
Wanda Petty; also Arkansas Hospice, Unity Home Health, and Unity Health 3E/In Patient Hospice Unit.

A memorial service and reception will be held March 11, 2017, 2pm at the College Church of Christ Family Room. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Searcy Public Library, 113 E. Pleasure Avenue, Searcy, AR 72143 or Unity Health Foundation 1200 S. Main Street, Searcy, AR 72143.

Arrangements by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home, Searcy.

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Contributed on 5/18/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1318213

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Additional MCCULLOUGH FORMBY Surnames in WHITE COUNTY MEMORIAL GARDENS Cemetery

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Submitted: 5/18/20 • Approved: 5/18/20 • Last Updated: 5/30/20 • R1318213-G1318212-S3

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