Annie Beatrice (Dawson) Madden of Drasco, Arkansas, formerly of Beedeville, Cowlake Community, departed this life on Thursday, July 27, 2023. She was born February 27, 1938, in Trumann, Arkansas, the daughter of Ben E. Dawson, Sr., and Thelma Lee (White) Dawson.
Annie Beatrice Madden shared a birthday with her husband of 66 years, Kenneth Madden, Sr. Their children describe their union as unusual, dynamic, and forgiving.
She was a member of the Beedeville Church of Christ, and Ben Church of Christ in Ben, Arkansas. Bea was a very energetic woman, known for her “fire and vinegar” personality, and her ability to convey her feelings at any moment in time. A nice way of saying it, is she either liked you or not! You always knew where you stood with Bea. If you were a person she liked, the moment she saw you, she had a big smile and her eyes would light up.
Never a stranger to hard work, Bea’s many jobs included being a teacher’s aid, factory worker, meter reader, CNA, grocery clerk, secretary, and poll worker. In her younger years, Bea reluctantly helped on Madden Farms, driving a tractor, pulling markers, and picking cotton with her sisters-in-law, Betty and Charlene. She spent most of her working life as a dispatcher and matron at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, from which she retired. Bea worked even when she was home, keeping the best yard in Cowlake, and the cleanest house in the area. While she was never a gourmet cook, she loved to Dance. Bea would say she was a jack of all trades and a master of none!
Bea was very protective of her kids and known for her go-getter attitude. She was instrumental in the implementation of the Cross County Water Association. Bea enjoyed a challenge, as demonstrated by the fact that she, at the age of 42, enrolled in Arkansas State University and completed several college credit hours.
She and Ken enjoyed their retirement years at the lake, entertaining and having family gatherings. The years mellowed her out, and she became a gray-haired grandma, who forgot how to bake cookies and cook. She loved her final years with Ken, Darlene, Kenny, Tracie, Trace, Kayla, Kelby, Abbie, Tim Ogg, and Stella.
Bea had a special set of friends in her life, including Lilly B Smith Shepard, her cousin, Margaret Malone, who knew all her secrets, and Ellen Tarno, Linda Eskew, and Mickey Oloff.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Shirley Dawson Mann; brother-in-law, Bob Mann; her brother, Ben Dawson, Jr.; her sister-in-law and nephew, Brenda and Jeff Dawson; and her parents. Also preceding her were her in-laws, Alton Madden, Charlene Madden Avery, Cheri Madden King, John Paul Madden, Donna Madden, Henry Reid, Sr., Etta Lee Madden Reid, and their son, Mike Reid, Joe and Mary Etta Madden, Stan and Norma Jo Madden, Ralph and Betty Madden, her niece, Tara Madden London, Norman Madden, Dale Madden, and her nephew, Roy Thomas.
Bea is survived by her husband, Kenneth Madden, Sr; children, Darlene Madden of Cowlake, and Kenneth Madden, Jr., and wife, Tracie of Drasco; three grandchildren, Kenneth “Trace” Madden, III, and wife, Kayla, and their daughter, Stella Parker Madden of Searcy, Abbie Madden of Lowell, and Kelby Madden Wilson of Cowlake; and her special Yorkie Dog, “Jr.”.
Friends may visit the funeral home, Friday, July 28, 2023, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services are 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Beedeville Church of Christ, with interment following in Madden Cemetery at Cowlake.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Steve Reid, Harold Madden, Mitch Reid, Tony Madden, Keith Madden, Dale Madden, Jr., Jeff Madden, Ed Madden, Mac Madden, Denny Thomas, Jr., Joe Madden, Jr., John Madden, Bob Mann, Ronnie Mann, Donnie Mann, Dudley Dawson, Tim London, Shane Hutchinson, and Nicky Jackson. Honorary pallbearers are Randall James, Tim Carter, Vernon Altom, Jerry Towell, and past and present employees of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.
