Mary Ann Bonnen O'Mara

Mary Ann Bonnen O'Mara – died Tuesday, May 23, 2017. 88 years of age. Her love of education and willingness to share that with her family has carried long into the lives of her children. She kept full sets of the old Child Craft and Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedias, as well as her trusty dictionary, on the bookshelf next to her chair in the den. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a love of learning and a respect for knowledge, and neither was quelled within her. She was a faithful reader of her daily newspaper, and a voracious reader besides. Mom was often the "cushion" between a loving (but sometimes stern) father and his loving (but sometimes unruly) children. Don't anybody tell Dad, but there were plenty of, oh, let's call them "incidents" that took place while he was traveling on business that Mom kept to herself – often sparing her children the drudgery of 6 a.m. Saturday rock-hauling in the backyard. Mary was born August 22, 1928, in Bryan, Texas and grew up in nearby College Station, where she was raised as a Texas Aggie. She earned a bachelor's degree in business from Texas State College for Women (women weren't allowed to attend Texas A&M in those days, otherwise...) in 1949 before launching her life-long, full-time career as a devoted wife and mother. Mom and Dad were married on September 6, 1949, in College Station, then commenced a six-state adventure where they finally settled down in Arkansas. Dad fell in love with fishing on Beaver Lake, while Mom couldn't get enough of walking among the trees, enjoying bird watching ("That IS a pileated woodpecker!") and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a devoted member of St. Raphael Catholic Church since the family moved to Springdale. She had served on the Parish Council and was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. She was a member of the Altar Society and the Sewing Group, as well as Right To Life. On Tuesday, Mom was greeted in heaven by her devoted husband, W.D. O'Mara, with whom she has 17 years of catching up to do; her parents, C.A. and Alice Bonnen; and her three brothers, Jim, Jerry and David Bonnen. Those who remain to cherish her memory include two sisters, Marty Dixon of Houston, Texas; Patsy Boughton of Sugar City, Idaho; two daughters, Patsy O'Mara and Marty Yarbrough, both of Springdale; six sons, Mike O'Mara of Cedarville, Roger O'Mara of Fayetteville, Jim O'Mara of Bella Vista, Ralph O'Mara of Springdale, Andy O'Mara of Beebe, and Dan O'Mara of Columbia, S.C.; four daughters-in-law whom she loved as her own, Glenanna O'Mara of Cedarville, Lottie O'Mara of Bella Vista, Connie O'Mara of Springdale, and Sheila O'Mara of Columbia, S.C.; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, with visitation to follow from 6 to 7 p.m., both at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Springdale, with interment to follow at Fayetteville National Cemetery. The family wishes to thank the caring and devoted professionals at Circle of Life Hospice, especially Holly, for making Mom's last few months just that much less painful and stressful. Your commitment to her care made it possible to fulfill her greatest wish – to live out her life at home. We ask that memorial donations be made to Circle of Life Hospice at nwacircleoflife.com, or by mail at 901 Jones Road, Springdale, Ark. 72762. "Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all." – Laura Ingalls Wilder Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com.