BLYTHEVILLE — Molly Jo Beasley
Fuller, 80, died Thursday, December 17, in Blytheville, Ark. Born in Blytheville, she was the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Beasley of Blytheville, Ark.
She was raised in Blytheville and graduated from Blytheville High School in 1958. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., for two years and then transferred to the University of Arkansas where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Following graduation from the University of Arkansas in 1962, she joined the faculty at Butler High School in Butler, Mo., where she taught Girls Physical Education and Health. The next year, she joined the faculty at Blytheville High School as a physical education instructor. On April 4, 1964, she married John Douglas Pitts “Jack” Fuller, Jr., son of the late Dr. John D. P. and Minnie Lawrence Mims Fuller of Lexington, Va.
During her husband’s 22 years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF), Molly Jo served often in leadership roles in a variety of USAF spouse associations and shared her beautiful voice in church choirs throughout their duty stations. During their travels, she and Jack lived in numerous states and countries, including New York, Texas, California, Arizona, and Germany, a favorite location and the birthplace of both of their daughters.
After Jack’s retirement from the United States Air Force, Molly Jo and Jack moved to Blytheville where she was a devoted wife and mother and an enthusiastic homemaker for two, perpetually busy daughters. Central to her love of life and family was her faith in God. An active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Blytheville all her life, Molly Jo served as a deacon, church treasurer, and president, and lifelong member of the Women of the Church. She enjoyed cooking for others, chairing benevolence and hospitality dinners, and coordinating countless meals on wheels for church members and friends alike. She was well known for her green tomato pickles, tomato aspic, and boundless sense of humor.
She was a member of the Blytheville Rotary Club. She served as President of the Blytheville Junior Auxiliary and the Regional Director of the National Association of Junior Auxiliary. In prior years, she was an active member of the Lady Bug Garden Club and a board member of Presbyterian Christian Academy. The wife of an avid gardener, she enjoyed canning and pickle-making and harvesting the bounty of vegetables and fruits grown in Jack’s garden every summer. Her more recent hobbies included traveling to visit her daughters and grandchildren, playing bridge, and riding bicycles at the beach.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John Douglas Pitts “Jack” Fuller, Jr. She is survived by two daughters, Molly F. Collins (Jeff, LTC USA, Ret) of Nashville, Tenn., and Lillian F. Bolinger (Todd, LTC, USAF, Ret) of Bentonville, Ark.; two grandchildren, Noah and Lucy Bolinger, also of Bentonville, Ark.; and one brother, John E. Beasley (Cindy) of Little Rock, Ark.
Funeral services were private as per COVID guidelines. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 1520 N. 10th Street, Blytheville, Ark. 72315, or the Mississippi County Library, 200 N. 5th Street, Blytheville, Ark. 72315.