M ary Frances (McDonald) Harper was born in her childhood home in Sheridan, AR,  on November 14,1927 as the daughter of Samuel Lee and Essie Mae (Walker) McDonald.  God received her into her eternal home on March 5, 2025.Raised and educated in Sheridan, Mary spent many childhood days helping her parents in their variety store filling bags of candy for children and their parents.

Mary graduated from Sheridan High School in 1944 and Arkansas State Teachers College (UCA) in 1948.  Also in 1948, Mary married the love of her life, Joe Lynn Harper, on May 27 after he returned home from the war.

As an educator of 34 years, Mrs. Harper taught elementary, junior high, high school, and adult education students.  Her teaching career included teaching English, Chemistry (her greatest love), Biology, and Earth Sciences.  Districts served in were Guy Perkins, Hermitage, White Hall, and the last 28 years in the Sheridan School District.  She was very proud to have begun a Science Fair Program at Sheridan where several of her students won trips and awards beyond the High School competition.   She was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame on May 9, 2002.  In 2001, the Grant County Chamber of Commerce awarded her the Larry Freier Memorial Award.  She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

After her public school tenure, she spent the following fifteen years working with the Grant County Adult Education and Literacy Programs. She taught four years of GED classes and eleven years as Director of the Learn to Read Program.

Mary was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Sheridan where she served as the church organist for over 30 years.  She loved her Lord Jesus and His church.  Previously, she was active in Bible Study Fellowship in Little Rock often taking young preschool grandchildren with her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her older brother and sister in law         (Harold Lee and  Barbara McDonald).

She is survived by her daughter Frances Lynn Harper Cross Siler (Mick) of Sheridan, and her son Bob Harper (Welda) of Sherwood.  She is survived by loving grandchildren, Samuel David Cross (Rebeca) of Gentry, Hannah Joelle Osborne (Jason) of Rogers, Justin Siler (Lesley) of Sheridan, Stephanie Ann Kees (Dak) of Rogers, Lyndsey Jo Sanders (Bert) of Bentonville, and Drew Weldon Harper (Stephanie) of Brookland. Great grandchildren, Kyla Whitaker (Richie), Nathan, Malachi, Kierstin, Lincoln Cross; Haleigh, Justice, Jericho Osborne; Jackson, Preston, Dawson Kees; Kate, Harper Ann Sanders; Bennett, and Brooks Harper.

"MiMi" is also survived by several other special family members who are foster grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren as well as a foreign exchange student.  She also counted her many school students as family and rejoiced with each person who she was privileged to help with their further education.

Mary was blessed with excellent care givers in her later years.  One extra special lady is Judy Byars who has assisted her for over 13 years. Doris Hawkins, Joyce Paxton, and several others have been a rich blessing to her.  She deeply loved each one.

Funeral service will be Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Memorial Gardens Funeral home with Bro. Thomas Sewell, Bro. Bob Harper and Samuel Cross officiating. Visitation Is from 10:00 until service time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 1201 South Rock, Sheridan, AR  72150