of Marshall, AR

February 16, 1932 - September 8, 2023

Mary Jo Slay, age 91, of Marshall, Arkansas passed from this earthly life on Friday, September 8th, 2023 at Countryside Nursing Home in Jasper, Arkansas. She was born in Pindall, Arkansas on February 16th, 1932 to Emmet Elijah Martin and Bessie Victoria McDougal Martin. She married Ben Charles Slay on August 27th, 1949. To this union five children were born: Rick, Mike, Bruce, Sandy and Susan.

Mary Jo loved her family and friends. She especially loved her grandchildren. She was known as "Granny Jo" to all of her grandkids and to all of her friends as well. Mary Jo loved to bake and was famous for her apple pies and Bacardi Rum cakes. She was sweet and sassy at the same time. Mary Jo worked at the St. Joe School Head Start Program for ten years or more and received a bachelor's degree in early childhood development from ASU in Jonesboro. She retired from the Searcy County Sheriff and Collectors Office where she worked for sixteen years. She was very loved by all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as all her former students at St. Joe School. To this day, they ask about her and remember her fondly. Mary Jo was dearly loved by her friends and community, they will always remember her beauty, kindness and friendship.

Survivors include her children, Mike Slay and wife, Pam of Valley Springs, Bruce Slay and wife, Sharon of Marshall, Sandy Horton of Braselton, Georgia and Susan Halsted and husband, Steve of Marshall; daughter-in-law, Cindy Slay of Marshall; grandchildren, Shane Slay, Samuel Slay (Mariah), Alexandria Gardner (Virgil), Micah Arington (Rachel), Shad Arington (Angela), Tara McKinney (Joe), Heather Ratchford (Derek), Latisha Chadwick (Tyler), Keely Petty (Blake), Caisha Howell (Dustyn), Joel Slay (Katie), Katie Olasz (Andrew), Kasie Brenson (Ray), Josh Halsted (Jennifer), Ashley Halsted and Hannah Humbard (Garrett); fifty great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Mary Jo is preceded in death by her parents, Emmet and Bessie Martin; her husband, Ben Charles Slay; her son, Ricky Charles Slay; grandsons, Michael Lee Slay and Aryan Slay; sisters, Elsie Trublood (Jim), Hazel Taylor (Gerald), Lee Harris, Lorraine Saling, Helen Gooch (Bill), Rue Taylor (Junior) and Betty Gibson (Fayne); brother, Hugh John Martin and son-in-law, Cam Horton.

A private family gathering will be held in honor of Mary Jo at a later date.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
923 Highway 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com