Mary Ann Marshall, 64, passed away on March 11, 2020, after a long battle with lung disease.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Batesville, Arkansas.
She was born on Sept. 26, 1955, to J.L and Mary Lee (Prichard) Marshall of Batesville. During her childhood she spent the days with her maternal grandparents Charles Burness (C.B.) and Beatrice Prichard while her parents worked.
In the 1960s, she was very involved in the 4-H club in Batesville including two summer trips to Winrock Farms in Morrilton and a 4-H trip to Washington D.C. She was an active member of Young Arkansans for Rockefeller during Winthrop Rockefeller’s bid for Arkansas Governor in the 1960s.
She graduated from Batesville High School and received a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Ouachita Baptist University where she was a member of the Ouachitonian Yearbook staff and the women’s tennis team. Following in the path of her parents, she became an accountant and practiced more than 40 years.
She served as president of the Batesville Tennis Association and the Batesville Country Club Tennis Association. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was involved as an assistant area league coordinator with the Arkansas Tennis Association. She and her doubles partner, Judy Babcock, played many tournaments throughout the state gaining the top ranking in their level for several years. She served for 4 years on the Arkansas Tennis Association Board of Directors; for 9 years as president of the Humane Society of Independence County; Finance Chairman at First United Methodist Church as well as a member of Church Council; and a member of the board of directors of Old Independence Regional Museum, service as President for 3 years. She was also a lifetime member of the Ruth Chapter of the Eastern Star.
All of her life she loved animals, especially cats and dogs. She also enjoyed reading, especially books about the Kennedy Family.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her grandparents.
She is survived by a brother, Gary (Janice); sister by choice, Judy Babcock; her cousin Charles (Janie) Prichard: and her beloved cats, Tigger J and Maxie.
Pallbearers will be Robert Griffin, Roy Gillihan, Charles Wade, Dr. James Davis, Steve Massey, Dr. Loverd Peacock, Frank Tripp, Steve Bell, Johnny Kent, Mark Wyatt.
Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Gregg Neaville, Dr. Michelle Warden, Dr. Phillip Baker, Annette Heasley, Twyla Wright, and Dr. Tonia Russell.
Graveside services will be held at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery Friday, March 13, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home prior to the service beginning.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Humane Society of Independence County, P O Box 3477, Batesville, AR 72503 or Old Independence Regional Museum, 380 S 9th Street, Batesville, AR 72501.
All arrangements are being taken care of by Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville, Arkansas.
