Obituaries

Betty Chronister Mabrey

Photo of Betty Chronister Mabrey
Betty Chronister Mabrey was born to Beatrice and O.B. Chronister on May 31, 1928 in Russellville, Arkansas and passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 in Little Rock. She grew up on Park Hill in NLR, graduating from North Little Rock High. She attended the U of A at Fayetteville for two years before marrying Thomas A Mabrey. She was the proud and loving mother of two boys, Berlin Davis and William Thomas Mabrey, for whom she was a tireless teacher, coach and cheerleader. Betty and Tom where founding members of Lakewood United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school for their boys through the 6th grade. She was active in their schools serving the PTA for Lakewood Elementary, Hall High, and Catholic High schools. Betty loved North Little Rock and the North Little Rock Junior League, serving as president for two years. She hounded Mayor Casey Lamen into giving the League a house in the Argenta region of NLR for their functions. Her, and her many friends, had a Garden Club and Bridge Club. She was preceded in death by her father O.B. Chronister and mother, Beatrice Chronister. She is survived by her two sons Beau (wife Fara) and Bill Mabrey. The grandchildren she loved so much, Anna Mabrey (Beau), Beatrice Robeson and Anthony (Beau and Fara), William Jr. and wife Kara, John and Matthew (Bill). She has two great-grandchildren, Josephine Rose (Beatrice and Bryan) and William Thomas III (William and Kara). Special thanks are owed to the wonderful people who did such a great job of loving and caring for Betty in the last year of her life, Diane, Henry, and Andrea Smith, all of whom Betty loved and laughed with, Kay, Janet, Janie and all the Synergy people who loved and gave so much of themselves, Dr. Ron Hardin and his angelic nurse, Denise, who did so much for Betty in a loving and joyful fashion, Dr. Laura Otter, who worked so patiently with Betty, who really didn't like going to the doctor or taking medicines. For the past six months, Andrea Smith would read to Betty from "Jesus Calling" or from The Bible. This brought Betty great joy as she struggled to read for herself. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Arkansas Enterprises for The Developmentally Disabled or the Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center. Memorial Mass will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Christ the King Catholic Church. A visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, February 9, 2018, followed by a rosary service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements by Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

Published February 8, 2018

Upcoming Events