of Jonesboro, AR

July 8, 1927 - January 3, 2024

Mary Louise Chrestman was born on July 8, 1927 in Bauxite and died on January 3, 2024 in Jonesboro. She was the oldest child of James Edward Chrestman Sr and Ola Pearl (Wilkerson) Chrestman. According to family stories, Louise and her sister, Virginia Lucille and brother, James Jr. were a mischievous trio and kept their parents busy. Eventually, the family moved to Dyess and grew to include two more sisters, Ola Jean and Emma Geneva and a brother, Donald Lee. The whole family worked hard, picked cotton and tended to the family farm. In the evenings, Louise recalled listening to the radio and spending long hours debating with her father about current events.

Louise graduated salutatorian from Dyess High School and briefly worked there as a secretary. She moved to West Memphis, and later her mother and sister, Emma joined her. Louise worked for a national adjusting company, traveling and establishing temporary offices throughout the United States to process natural disaster damage claims. But after her son, Keith was born, she stopped traveling and worked as a secretary for the same company until she retired.

She had many interests. She enjoyed gardening, loved reading the Bible and adored her three grandsons, Jack, Brock and Brody. Her flowerbeds were her prize and she constantly tended to them, adding and subtracting plants and flowers each year. She read a library of Christian literature, completed countless Bible studies and worked with her congregation's youth, producing and presenting numerous plays and concerts. But her favorite thing to do was to spend time with her grandsons, talking, laughing and playing games.

Preceded in death by her parents and four siblings.

Those left to cherish her memory are son and daughter in law, Keith Chrestman (Dr. Leslie McCasland); grandsons, Jackson Tate Chrestman, Matthew Brock Chrestman and Samual Brody Chrestman all of Jonesboro; sister, Emma Geneva (Philip) Ford of Beech Bluff, TN; sister-in-law, Jewell Dean Chrestman of North Little Rock and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home, 1900 West Washington Ave, Jonesboro with Father Joshua Leigeber officiating. A burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1:00pm until the time of service.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home
1900 West Washington Ave.
Jonesboro, AR  72401
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com