Lora Mae Housley

Lora Mae Curtis Housley, 73, of Pine Bluff, died Saturday, March 8, 2014. She was born December 9, 1940 in Searcy, daughter of Cedric and Madalene Mae Brown Curtis. Mrs. Housley was reared and received her early education in Hoxie, graduating from Hoxie High School in 1958. She earned her degree in Music Education from Arkansas College, now Lyon College, in 1961. She earned her Master's in Music Education from Ouachita Baptist University. She started her teaching career in the Bryant School District, teaching music at Bryant Junior High and Senior High from 1961-1965. After a brief stint teaching music in Brinkley, she moved to Pine Bluff in 1967 along with her husband, M. Cravens Housley. She taught music in the Pine Bluff School District from 1967 until her retirement in 1996, after 35 years of teaching music in public education. Mrs. Housley was a member of Lakeside United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the chancel choir, handbells, worship committee and member of the Wesley Sunday School Class. She was a member of the Alpha Sigma Sorority, Arkansas Elementary Association, Pine Bluff Musical Coterie, Delta Kappa Gamma teacher's sorority, pianist for the Trinity Sing Along and Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association. Mrs. Housley was preceded in death by her husband, M. Cravens Housley; and her parents. Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth Anne Housley of Pine Bluff; brother, Sedric Scott Curtis of Bryant; caregivers, Cynthia Davis and Girtha Adway, both of Pine Bluff. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, 2014 in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Reverend Mary Susan Hilliard officiating. A service will follow 3 p.m., Wednesday at Prairie View United Methodist Church in Prairie View, Arkansas with Reverend Earl Carter officiating. Burial will be private. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Robinson's. The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Greer, Dr. Nancy Rector and Dr. James Campbell for their special care of Mrs. Housley. Memorials may be made to Pine Bluff Animal Control, c/o Tina Bohannon, 901 North Haverty Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.