of Fayetteville, AR
September 10, 1948 - January 3, 2024
Mary Beth (Barber) Askins, age 75, of Paris, Arkansas passed away January 3, 2024 in Springdale, Arkansas.
She was born on September 10, 1948 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to her parents, JC Barber and Gerry Cox Barber. Mary Beth managed her family's business, Cox Funeral Home in Paris and Clarksville, for many years in the 1970s and 1980s. As a licensed funeral director, she served the community with compassion and respect. After the sale of the family business, Mary Beth attended nursing school, graduating in 1991 from Westark Community College. She continued a career of serving others while working as a registered nurse for 25 years in Fort Smith, Charleston and Springdale. Mary Beth was a proud, competitive woman. She loved coaching softball, yelling poolside at swim meets and enthusiastically cheering at any sport her children, nephews or grandchildren played. She was not afraid to let a referee or umpire know how she felt and was ''asked'' to take a seat on more than one occasion.
Mary Beth was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Christopher Bennett.
She is survived by her son, Chad and daughter-in-law, Rita Freeman; her daughter, Rebecca and son-in-law, Charlie Cowie and grandsons, who were truly the loves of her life, Logan and Luke Cowie of Fayetteville; siblings, Anne Marie Barber of Paris and John Barber of Texas and nephew, Derek Cisne of Little Rock.
We respectfully ask that any donations in her memory be made to FurGet Me Not in Logan County, Arkansas or St. Joseph Catholic School in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
A memorial visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2024 followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Roller Funeral Home in Paris, Arkansas.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Edgewood Health and Rehab for loving Mary Beth and treating her like family over the last several years. Your kindness and love meant so much to her and to us.
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Obituary Provided By:
Roller Funeral Home
1700 East Walnut Street
Paris, AR 72855
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com