Dora "Jane" Spears Thigpen

Dora "Jane" Spears Thigpen, 85, former owner of Jane's Hallmark in Little Rock at The Market Place passed away at Crestpark Nursing Home in DeWitt, Tuesday, December 2, 2014. She was born in Gillett on January 15, 1929 to Walt and Viola Spears. Jane received her early education in Gillett but moved to Los Angeles, California as a teenager with her mom during World War II, to be closer to her brother, Mack, serving in the Navy. She returned later to graduate from Gillett High School. She married C.W. Thigpen of DeWitt June 13, 1947. She was a housewife and mother of two young children while attending Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway graduating with a BSE in 1961. She taught elementary school in DeWitt, St. Charles and Almyra schools. She also used her degree to become Arkansas County Welfare Director of Social Services. After the death of her husband in 1967 she continued to manage the family farm in DeWitt. She moved to Little Rock in 1971. She received her brokers licenses and help start Holley-Thigpen Realty. Jane is best remembered as owner and operator of "Jane's Hallmark" in Little Rock. She truly enjoyed the Hallmark business with a kind and generous heart toward customers and employees. She loved meeting people and listening to their life stories. Always ready to share with those in need. After the onset of Alzheimer's she moved to DeWitt to be with family. She delighted in reconnecting with past friends and visiting with locals at the coffee shop. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church where singing in the church choir gave her joy and happiness. She was always known as MaMa Jane by family and close friends. She is preceded in death by her parents; Walt Spears, Fred and Viola Grossman; husband, C.W. Thigpen; and brother, Mack Spears Left to celebrate her life and cherish her memory are son, Benny Thigpen (Debbie), daughter, Carla Alter O'Dell (Joe); grandchildren: Hunter Alter Norris (Robert), Amanda Alter Martin (Avery), John O'Dell (Katy), Christi O'Dell Obenshain (Chris) and seven great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 2 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2014 at First United Methodist Church of DeWitt. Interment will be at Cedarcrest Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 608 S. Grandview Dr., DeWitt, Ark. 72042 or Alzheimer's Association. essexfuneralhome.com.