SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Mildred “Bea” Beatrice Huffman Mackey,

82, of Springfield, Mo., passed peacefully Christmas morning after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born in Busch, Ark., on the White River on March 10, 1938, to Elmer and Claudis Huffman.

She was a graduate of Eureka Springs High School’s Class of 1956 and Arkansas Tech University’s class of 1961 where she met and married her college love, Ray, in 1957.

She was an elementary teacher for over 30 years in the Wentzville, Mo., school district. Her love and concern for children was evidenced by her involvement in the Missouri Science Conservation summer camps and graduate work with the learning disabled children of the school district. She worked for many years as the director of Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church of Wentzville, Mo.

She is remembered by her grandchildren for nature walks in which she boldly captured a multitude of live specimens for the kids inspection and enjoyment; long games of Farkle, baking brownies, and serving up chicken and dumplings.

She was proceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, Raymond Herschel Mackey; grandson Jacob Freimon Kellogg; brothers Charles Elmer Huffman and Donald Ray Huffman; and sister Martha DeAnn Cannon.

She is survived by brother James Thomas Huffman; her three children and their spouses Deborah Raenell Mackey and Cheryl Perry, Ronnie and Annette Mackey and Dr. Deatrice and Steve Kellogg; grandchildren Nicole Silverman, Tanner and Sumner Mackey and Alex and Zachary Kellogg; and many nieces and nephews.

She will be missed by many whose lives she touched, loved and mentored through the years.

A visitation will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers, Ark., from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Funeral service will held following the visitation at 11 a.m. at Rollins Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Ruddick Cemetery in Garfield, Ark. Online condolence may be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com .