The death of Mrs. Mary Catherine Bourne (née Williams) of Treat, Arkansas, which occurred during the early hours of May 6, 2024, brought sadness to her loved ones, and has taken away one of Pope County’s finest women.
On August 4, 1929, Mary was born to Silas and Esther (née Neathery) Williams in Clark County, Arkansas. A small, unusually compassionate child, Mary could usually be found reading or rescuing plants and animals that had been deemed to be ‘lost causes.’ By high school, Mary had become a fearless basketball player for Gurdon’s Go-Devils, leading her team in assists and fadeaways. Sources say she could’ve gone pro, had the WNBA been founded just a few years earlier.
Following graduation, Mary moved to Little Rock and took a job at Sears, where she would meet a tall, handsome salesman named Bill Bourne. It was love at first sight, and by 1950, they were married, with seven children in their future. After moving between states, the family eventually settled in the birthplace of the real Whatta-Burger—Russellville, Arkansas.
As a mother, Mary was wildly supportive of her children. As one son recalled: “you never had to worry about losing Mom at our games, because no one could ever match the sheer volume of her cheers.” She was also extremely passionate about teaching her children about their roots—specifically, Clark County cuisine. This meant incorporating onions into most (if not all) dishes. And, according to family lore, not even jello was safe from those tear-inducing bulbs.
A staunch advocate for literacy, Mary obtained her teaching degree from Arkansas State Teacher’s College and became one of the first teachers to participate in the Head Start Program. Over the course of her 25-year career, Mrs. Bourne taught hundreds of students to love reading, about the importance of staying curious, and no matter what: “always use the Oxford comma.”
In the ‘70s, the Mary and Bill retired over the river and through the woods, in the Ozark National Forest. They built a home, started a vegetable garden, and hosted countless animals over the years. Not long after their arrival, the couple began welcoming their grandchildren into their lives. Mary was extremely proud of all of her grandchildren and would light up when speaking of them to her friends. She always looked forward to watching their games, taking them to visit the library, and making them her famous drop biscuits with homemade apple butter.
Mary Bourne was an unapologetic champion for her family, a devoted friend, and a devout Catholic. She loved Portulacas, visiting the library, the Spanish language, mango ice cream (pronounced MAWN-GO, because “that’s how the Spanish say it”), her dogs, and playing double 12 dominoes—but more than anything, she loved when you’d call her for no reason at all.
Someone once said that grief is just love with no place to go—and I’d agree. For what is it to miss a person, if not evidence of love persisting? This absolutely applies in the case of Mrs. Mary Bourne; it was a privilege to know her, so missing her will be an honor.
Mrs. Bourne was preceded in death by her parents, Silas and Esther Williams, son, David Bourne, husband, Bill Bourne, and daughter, Virginia Bourne.
She’s survived by sisters, Martha Carrouth of Little Rock, Arkansas and Jo Turner (Olen) of Camden, Arkansas; brother, Silas Williams (Nedra) of Whelen Springs, Arkansas; daughter, Joanna Bourne (Richard Estioko) of San Antonio, Texas; sons, Phillip Bourne (Kathie) and Don Bourne of Russellville, Arkansas, Tim Bourne of Visalia, California, and Bob Bourne of Treat, Arkansas. Mary’s also survived by her nine grandchildren: Molly Murphy of Dallas, Texas, Ian Bourne (Natalie) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Kate Bourne (Cooper Walden) of San Luis Obispo, California, Mary-Beth Bourne (Sean Creegan) of Desert Spring, California, Jessica Bourne and Silas Bourne of Russellville, Arkansas, Amber Edge (Scott) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Matthew Loyd (Cara Jean) of Springdale, Arkansas, and Marie Bradley (Charles) of Jenks, Oklahoma, as well as 13 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Memorial Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 17, 2024, at the Shinn Chapel with Father Daniel Ramos officiating and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service.
The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.
