Mary Louise (Underwood) Smart, 95, of Corning, Arkansas passed away February 6, 2024, in the gentle care of Corning Therapy and Living Center and Legacy Hospice of Walnut Ridge.
She was born September 20, 1928 in Piggott, Arkansas to Earnest and Vera (Wiley) Underwood. She was eighteen when she married her sweetheart, Homer Gene Smart, who was sixteen at the time. They were farmers and together raised five wonderful children-according to her grandchildren.
Mary Lou had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening, especially flowers-iris, day lilies, and roses to name a few. She was a member of the General Baptist Church in Rector, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Homer Gene, parents: Earnest and Vera Underwood, sons: Buford Smart and Jimmie Smart, grandsons: Mark Taylor and J.R. Smart, great granddaughter: Blair Johnson, son-in-law: Rex Cox, and all five siblings: Jake Underwood, Catherine Imogene Underwood, David Underwood, Ray Underwood, and Joe Underwood.
Survivors include daughter: Mary E. (Johnnie) Taylor of Success, Arkansas, grandson: Clay (Nicole) Taylor of Success, Arkansas, daughter Stella (Rex) Cox of Bradenton, Florida, grandsons: Shawn (Melissa) Cox of Republic, Missouri, and Tracy (Theresa) Johnson of Alma, Arkansas, granddaughter: Sarah Johnson of Bradenton, Florida, daughter: Brenda (Basil) Foster of Paragould, Arkansas, grandson: Michael E. Campbell of Springfield, Missouri, granddaughters: Heather Herrman of Paragould, Arkansas, Jennifer (Jason) Crouch of Manila, Arkansas, and many great and great-great grandchildren, sister-in-laws: Vondala Underwood of Paragould, Arkansas and Elaine Smart of Piggott, Arkansas, and a host of nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Visitation will take place Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at Irby-Mitchell Funeral Home of Rector. Services will follow at 2:00 P.M. Interment will be Mars Hill Cemetery in Crockett. Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Terry Bearden, Randy Anders, Joe Howell, Jerry Phillips, Steve Baker, and Jim Nunnery. Honorary pallbearers are: Danny Johnson, Charles Bearden, Beryl Whiteside, and Tony Micenhamer