Charlene "Mimi" Hollinger

Charlene "Mimi" Hollinger passed away in her sleep on Saturday, Aug. 18 surrounded by her family and caregivers at home in Fort Smith, Ark. Mrs. Hollinger was born on Aug. 20, 1938 in Munising, Upper Peninsula, Mich., to the late Beulah E. Hunt. She is preceded in death by three husbands, Buster Howard, O.C. Hemphill, and Eugene Hollinger as well as two great grandchildren. She is survived by her eight children, Charles Howard (Phoebe) of Perryville, Ark., James Howard of Little Rock, Ark., Norman Howard (Ruth) of Little Rock, Ark., Elizabeth Miller (Jimmy) of Little Rock, Ark., John Howard of Bryant, Ark., Ronald Hemphill (Suzanne) of Roland, Okla., O.C. "Buck" Hemphill Jr. of Little Rock, Ark., and Joseph Hemphill (Roseann) of Conway, Ark. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and multitudes of children, family friends, and care givers who fondly called her Mimi. Mrs. Hollinger moved to Arkansas as a child and spent her formative years in catholic schools in Little Rock. She is a graduate of Central High school class of 1956. She loved children and the elderly. Over her adult life she dedicated her heart and soul to raising her family, providing child care to her own grandchildren and those of friends and neighbors and tending to the sick and aging. She was actively involved in the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign War and openly provided home cooked meals and a place to stay to anyone in need. She loved gospel music, gladiolas, and sunshine. She had a sharp wit and a contagious sense of humor. She was warm and welcoming and provided simple wisdom mixed with humility. She cooked without recipes and gave of herself without cause or motive. Her dog, Miss B, was her best friend and closest companion. Mrs. Hollinger will be memorialized in a service to be held at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in Little Rock, day and time to be announced in Monday's Obituary section of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. She will be laid to rest at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Friends and family will host a reception at the home of John Howard in Bryant, Ark. immediately following graveside service.