DOROTHY ELIZABETH “BETTY” GREENE MAHON,
97, of Little Rock, passed away peacefully in her home on October 28, 2020. She was born in Winona, Minn., to the late Harold and Stella Johnson Greene, on September 27, 1923. She was preceded in death in 1996, by her husband, Robert Mahon, after 47 years of marriage; daughter Patricia Mahon Mallet; and sister Marjorie Johnson. She is survived by two daughters, Ann (Roger) Hedges of Little Rock, and Nancy (Charlie) Smith of Hot Springs; son-in-law Donald Mallet of Portland, Ore; grandchildren Sarah Hedges of Atlanta, Ga; Colleen (Matt) Fletcher of Reston, Va; Jeff (Brittany) Hedges of Austin, Texas; Sophie (Robbie) Lane of Seattle, Wash; and Rosie Mallet of Washington, DC; a great grandson, Theo Hedges; a sister, Ruth Hinrichs of Fairmont, Minn; two cousins and several nieces and nephews.
Betty graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and the Philadelphia School of Occupational Therapy, University of Pennsylvania. She had a rewarding career in Occupational Therapy over a span of 38 years, retiring from the position of Director of Occupational Therapy and faculty member at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. As a pioneer in the field of Occupational Therapy, she never had to apply for a job; she just created it. In 1984, she retired with her husband to Diamondhead Community, Hot Springs.
Betty was a life-long member of the Lutheran church and, over the years, actively participated in Sunday School, choir, women’s groups, bible study, office help and other volunteer tasks as needed. She was active in her professional societies and community groups, enjoyed landscaping and gardening, golf, reading, crossword puzzles, bridge and especially her family. She was a talented artist, leaving behind many beautiful oil paintings. In her later years, she enjoyed watching “her” TV shows and movies, taking cruises, traveling with her family, and going on Mahon Girl Road Trips with her daughters. She was proud of her Norwegian and Icelandic heritage and attributed her long life to her Viking blood. She always carried herself well, exercised and ate healthily, looked and acted younger than her age, embraced new technology (yes, she read the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on her iPad), and was affectionately called Gma by her grandchildren. She drove until she was 94 and lived independently until the last few months of her life. She will be sorely missed. Thanks to Hospice Home Care and Wright by Your Side for support during her final months.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Winona, Minn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Little Rock Church, 315 S. Hughes, Little Rock, Ark., 72205, or Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs, Ark., 71913.
Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, Ark., 72205. (501) 605-2262. Sign Betty’s online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com