Anna Mae Pace, 94


Anna Mae Pace

Funeral services for Anna Mae Pace, 94, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, formerly of Gainesville, were held Oct. 17, 2020, at Levy Church of Christ, North Little Rock. Mrs. Pace died Oct. 14 at Lakewood Nursing Home in North Little Rock.

She was born on July 24, 1926, in Springfield, the daughter of Guy and Lena Hare. During her early childhood, due to her father’s work in construction, she never stayed in a school district for more than one year, but she was valedictorian of her high school in Saint James. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) with a degree in education. It was there that she met Jollie Pace, her husband-to-be Jollie. They were married Aug. 1, 1948, in Springfield and then moved to Gainesville, where Mrs. Pace taught high school English and math. In Gainesville, they formed friendships that would last a lifetime. 

In 1967, Mr. Pace’s career took them to North Little Rock, where they found a church home at Levy Church of Christ. Mrs. Pace was a devoted member who taught Bible class and faithfully visited the sick. 

She was the ultimate wife. She supported her husband in his insurance career, his role as an elder in the church and through his sickness and death in 2010. They never went to bed angry. Their children often heard them discussing the day’s events at night after they went to bed. 

She was also the ultimate mother and “memaw.” She never showed favoritism, although anyone who was with her was made to feel like they were special. She once said the only heartbreaking time in her life had been her sweet daughter Louise’s illness and death.

And she was the ultimate hostess. She had a talent for welcoming people. It didn’t matter if it was one person or 50, she always made guests feel at home. She hosted youth group activities, dinner parties for the elders and deacons, and wedding and baby showers.

For the past two and a half years, she was a much-loved resident of Lakewood Nursing Home. 

She is survived by her children: Vicki Wilson and husband Danny, Nancy Hutchinson and husband Donnie, Jay Pace and Walter, all of North Little Rock, and Suzie Waldmann and husband John of Camden, Arkansas; her brother, Guy Hare of Nixa; her grandchildren, Jay and Kelley Cowley, Justin Cowley, Jennifer and Matt Pattillo; and her eight great-grandchildren, Caleb, Shelby, Luke and Ethan Cowley and Maebry, Bruce, Wyatt and Lila Pattillo; and special nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by Jollie, her loving husband of 62 years; her daughter, Louise Pace; her parents; her sister, Sue Alexander; and her infant brother, Roy Gilbert Hare.

Burial was in Rest Hills Memorial Park in North Little Rock.

Roller-Owens Funeral Home, North Little Rock, Arkansas, directors.

Ozark County Times

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