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Submitted: 12/22/20 • Approved: 12/22/20 • Last Updated: 12/25/20 • R1357037-G1357035-S3
Johnnie
July 28, 1921 - Feb 25, 2008
Willie
Dec 22, 1913 - Oct 9, 1988
Mrs. Johnnie Mears, age 86, passed away Monday, February 25, at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, AR.
Johnnie was born, Johnnie Jorene Harrison, on July 28, 1921, the only child of the late Fred and Myrtle Harrison.
She lived with her parents on Begleys Creek, but would stay through the week with her grandparents in Leslie to attend school. Her grandparents owned the "old" Branum Hotel. She graduated with a teaching certificate at age 16 and began teaching in Rumley. She also taught at Rock Creek, Walnut Grove, and other Searcy County Schools for over 44 years.
In 1943, she joined the WAVES, trained in Boston, Massachusetts and then worked at an ammunition depot in Norman, Oklahoma until 1945. On April 5, 1946 Johnnie was united in marriage to Willie W. Mears and they shared 42 years together until his death in 1988. She began teaching at Marshall in 1946 and retired in 1983. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Arkansas State Teacher's College in Conway. After retirement she continued teaching local night classes for North Arkansas Community College.
Mrs. Mears was a member of Marshall United Methodist Church and a life long resident of Searcy County. She was a member of the Searcy County Retired Teachers Association.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Bill Mears of Harrison, and a nephew Lee Wilhelm of Atlanta, Georgia.
Services were held at Roller~Coffman Chapel. Interment was at Memorial Gardens.
Photo;
Annette Shaw
Contributed on 12/22/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1357037
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