of Searcy, AR

August 17, 1933 - February 15, 2015

Mary Frances McSpadden Fulbright was born on August 17, 1933, in Cave City and died February 15, 2015, in Searcy. She was the youngest child of Clarence McSpadden and Ruby Massey. She is survived by her older brother Roy Carthel McSpadden, and his wife Fayrene of Batesville. She is pre-deceased by her half-brother Dwight Leonard.
Mary Frances grew up in Cave City and graduated from Searcy High School in 1950. She was a gifted musician with perfect pitch that secured her a music scholarship to Arkansas State Teachers college, currently the University of Central Arkansas. She could site-read and play piano by ear, even after hearing a tune only once.
After only one year of study she forewent a college degree to marry Henry Homer '''Hank'' Fulbright, Jr., the handsome Searcy boy who swept her off her feet with romantic love-letters while she was away at college. They had their first date at Headlee's Drug Store on the court square following Sunday school at the United Methodist Church in Searcy. As a young married couple, Hank's career in the United States Air Force took them to live in Alabama, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Hank and Mary Frances eventually returned to their home town of Searcy. They were married for 64 years.
Mary Frances was called ''Mom'' first by her oldest of four daughters Stephanie Stafford, who predeceased her. Surviving daughters are Sheralyn Osborn of Kansas City, Missouri, Suellen Fulbright of Milford, New Hampshire, and Stacey Pectol of Little Rock. Mary Frances was called her favorite name, ''Granny'' first by her grand-daughter Jennifer Rene' Blakley, who predeceased her. Others who called her 'Granny'' were Robert and Vanessa Rice of Guy; Liza Workman of Warner, Oklahoma; Matthew Leger of Boston, Massachusetts; and Drake and Luke Pectol of Little Rock. Great-grandchildren are Elizabeth Jones, Brooklyn Rice, and Shane Rice of Searcy; Natalie Rice of Guy; and Logan, Lindsey, Connor, and Colton Workman of Warner, Oklahoma. Newborn great-great-grandson is Jason Cain Mitchell of Searcy. Mary Frances was affectionately called ''Aunt Mary'' by Dan and Isabelle McSpadden of Lubbock, Texas, Ginger and Stanley Eddington of Reyno, Arkansas, and Trudy and John Peden of Olive Branch, Mississippi.
Mary Frances loved to play the piano, listen to the music of Willie Nelson and Ray Charles, to cook, to crochet and needlepoint, and to laugh.

Sign Guestbook

5 Condolence(s)