To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 1/8/13 • Approved: 1/8/13 • Last Updated: 1/11/13 • R809241-G807296-S3
John
June 15, 1880 - Barry County, Missouri
August 31, 1971
Son of Frances Ann Snider and William L Mackey
Pearly
August 27, 1884 - September 17, 1948
Daughter of Mary Sauders and John Napoleon Anderson. She had six siblings (Altie, Clarence Wally, Edward, Arizona, Lonia Doris, and Gracie Anderson) from her parent's marriage, and two half-siblings (Rebecca and Lillie Jane Gaines) from her mother's first marriage to Robert Gaines of Fort Smith, Arkansas. According to Pearly's funeral records, her father, John Napoleon Anderson, was from Sweden.
In 1901, Pearly married John Franklin Mackey in Sebastian County, Arkansas. She was 17 and he was 21. They had one son, Hurshal Gaines Mackey, and a baby daughter who died just a few short days after birth, never named.
Pearly Roberta and John Franklin made their home in the Jenny Lind area of Sebastian County. After their son Hurshal married, he and his wife, Reba Bugg, shared a home with Pearly and John Franklin in the Maness area, also in Sebastian County. Hurshal and Reba eventually had three daughters (Norma, Ramona and Rohena) who joined the extended household. Pearly was a nurturing grandmother and served as a second mother to her granddaughters who lovingly called her "Mamma." They fondly remember the diligent efforts she made to ensure that their hair always looked pretty. Pearly enjoyed nothing more than doting on her only son and three granddaughters to the occasional angst of Reba who had the utmost regard for her mother-in-law.
In the 1940's the need for more troops for the imminent involvement in World War II established Camp Chaffee. When Chaffee was established, the Mackey's land and home were taken and the three-generation family was forced to uproot and establish a new home in 1941 in the Rye Hill/White Bluff community of Sebastian County. On the new family land, Pearly and John farmed and operated a wholesale dairy business with the help of Hurshal, Reba, and their granddaughters. For a number of years, they sold milk to Acee Dairy.
In faith, Pearly Roberta and John Franklin Mackey were Christian Adventists. They lived out their days with Hurshal and Reba until each of their deaths. Pearly died in the home on September 17, 1948 at the age of 64. John Franklin remained a widower until his death in 1971.
Pearly's service was held September 19th at Rye Hill Baptist Church under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home. Reverend L L Gilliam, pastor of Rye Hill Baptist conducted the service along with Elder J L McAlister, Christian Advent minister of Alma.
All four Mackeys, Pearly, John, Hurshal, and Reba, plus the infant daughter of Pearly Roberta and John Franklin Mackey are buried at Steep Hill Cemetery.
According to census records, the Mackey family lived in Taney County, Missouri. After the death of his mother, his father moved the family further south to Arkansas. They settled in the Chester community of Crawford County where his father remarried and had additional children. John Franklin left home as a teenager. For a period of time, he lived with his sister, Izora, in neighboring Sebastian County, Arkansas and worked for the railroad.
In 1901, at the age of 21, John Franklin Mackey married Pearly Roberta Anderson in Sebastian County.
John Franklin and Pearly Roberta shared a home with their only son Hurshal, daughter-in-law Reba, and Hurshal and Reba's three daughters (their granddaughters), Norma Dean, Ramona Faye, and Rohena Marie Mackey. The girls lovingly referred to their grandparents as "Papa" and "Mamma," as they truly served as second parents. John was a true family man. Until his death, he carried three silver dollars in his wallet, one with each granddaughter's birth year. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved seeing Papa's coins. The coins are treasures today and serve as a reminder of his love and affection.
Throughout his life, he was an active hunter, fisherman and gardener. His expertise and hard work furnished the majority of meals for his extended family. Until his death, John was remarkably fit and active. He was focused and hard-working but permitted himself the pleasure of dipping snuff and watching television wrestling. He was a warm and loving father and grandfather.
On August 31, 1971, John Franklin Mackey died at the age of 91. His funeral was held Thursday, September 2nd, at Rye Hill Baptist Church. Pallbearers were friends and members of the Rye Hill community who have since passed: Thord Luper, Parker Weir, Marshall Gibbs, Leo Geren, Victor Dufour and and Clovis Vandermillion. Honorary pallbearers were Zeda Vandermillion, Neal Griffith, Claud Gibbs, Herman Griffith, C C Smith and members of the Men's Sunday School class at Rye Hill Baptist Church.
Contributed on 1/8/13
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 809241