FAYETTEVILLE — Mary Alice McIntyre

( 83) was born November 28, 1938, in Bernice, La., the daughter of Eugene Pearson and Zula Mae Beaird Pearson.

She graduated from Bernice High School in 1957 and completed degrees in Music at Louisiana Tech (BA: Music Education) and Northeast Louisiana University (MA: Organ performance). She was first married to Rev. James Walter Jones and later married Laron Marion McIntyre.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her second husband, Laron Marion McIntyre; one son, Alan Ray Jones; two brothers, Billy Gene Pearson and his wife Alice Turnage Pearson, and Herbert Evans and his wife June; her niece, Diane Wogahn, and her nephew, Darryl Pearson.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Carol Jones of Fayetteville; her son, Roger Michael Jones of Fayetteville; nieces Karen Becker, Kim Wood, and Dessie Thrailkill; nephews Devery Pearson, Bill Pearson, Robert Pearson, and Jeffrey Campbell; her cousins Therez Kelley, Lloyd Grafton and his wife Frances; her uncle Simon Pearson and her aunt Louise Pearson, as well as other cousins and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Long a passionate church musician, Mary Alice sang in choirs and played the pipe organ in several United Methodist Churches throughout Louisiana. Most recently, she was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal church and choir in Fayetteville. She loved cats, butterflies and flowers.

She loved to fish, play the piano and pipe organ, read, play cards and games, and also engage in traditional activities such as canning, bread making, gardening, hospitality and cooking. She also greatly enjoyed traveling, having sung with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church choir in Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Vatican.

More than anything, Mary Alice was known for her deep devotion to her family and close friends. She made it a point to send cards, to call on birthdays, and to hold them each in her prayers when apart from them. She loved them all.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Chapel in Fayetteville.

A celebration of Mary Alice’s life will take place on Tuesday, November 29th, 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Ark.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 224 North East Avenue, Fayetteville, Ark., 72701.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com