Sarah Ann Killian

Sarah Ann Mayfield Killian died April 5, 2017, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas, after a 10 year battle with cancer. She was born August 15, 1942, in Beebe, Arkansas, to Lecil and Helen Ruth Chisam Mayfield. After graduating from Bald Knob High School in 1960 she entered college at Arkansas State University in Beebe, Arkansas, and graduated from ASU Jonesboro three years later. She met her husband Robert Ernest Killian in 1961, and they were married on June 1, 1962. In 1963 she began a teaching career that spanned the greater part of four decades. Beginning at Augusta High School she taught typing, shorthand and accounting until taking a position at Bald Knob High School in 1980. In 1987, life took her family to South Texas where she taught at Edinburg and then Edinburg North High Schools until her retirement in 2004. She is survived by her husband Robert Ernest Killian of McAllen, Texas, her daughter Elizabeth Gail "Betsy" Killian (Luke) of Hamilton, Texas, and her son William Ernest "Bill" Killian (Roxanne) of McAllen, Texas. She also has six grandchildren: Kate Elizabeth, Sarah Victoria, Abigail Ann, Caleb John, Grace Evelyn, and Aidan Robert. Her surviving siblings are Paul (Elaine) Mayfield, Beth McCarty and sister-in-law, Judy Mayfield of Bald Knob, Arkansas. There are also numerous nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Mayfield. Visitation was held in her honor on April 6th at Calvary Baptist Church, 1600 Harvey Drive in McAllen, Texas. A memorial service and burial will take place on April 15th at 11 a.m. at The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pineville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to either the Bald Knob Public Education Foundation Inc., 103 W. Park Ave. Bald Knob, Ark. 72010. http://baldknobschools.org/bald-knob-public-education-foundation: or, The Vannie E. Cook Jr. Cancer Foundation Inc., 101 West Expressway 83, McAllen, TexasX 78503. http://www.vanniecook.org/how-you-can-help/.