Rae Jene Dunn

Rae Jene Dunn, 74, of Farmington, Ark., died peacefully on Feb. 9, 2017, at the Earlene Walker Hospice Home in Springdale, Ark. She was born December 17, 1942, to Elsie and Raymond “Jack” Rinn as the eldest of five children in Alpena, Michigan, where her father was stationed by the Army Air Corps.

She graduated Fayetteville High School in 1960. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1964 and a Master of Science degree in botany in 1978 from the University of Arkansas.

On July 15, 1964, she wed James E. Dunn, a statistics professor at the University. They recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elsie and Jack, and her brother, David.

She is survived by her husband, James; two children, Katherine Parsons and Eric Dunn; five grandchildren, Isabel, Graham, and Gordon Parsons and Jason and James Dunn; and three sisters, Patricia Rinn, Gail Gavit, and Lisa Rotenberry.

She was an award-winning professional potter, as well as an avid gardener, quilter, art collector, traveler, and proficient sailor. She and her husband were founding members of the Beaver Lake Sailing Club in 1965. In 1982 she opened her studio, The Clay Castle, in Farmington, specializing in the design and fabrication of wheel-thrown pottery. She was a member of the Arkansas Craft Guild and the Heartwood Gallery at the end of her career.

The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Travis of the Highlands Oncology Group in Fayetteville, Dr. Alessandra Ferrajoli of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and the doctors and caretakers at the hospice home for their professional and compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center at www.mdanderson.org/gifts. Cremation arrangements by Beard’s Funeral Chapel. Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.