of Little Rock, AR
August 6, 1925 - September 11, 2021
Mary Carlice Mathis Dickinson passed away at home on September 11, 2021, surrounded by loved ones. She was 96. Carlice was born on August 6, 1925, in El Dorado, Arkansas, the middle child of the late Dessie Woods and William Mathis, Sr. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Walter M. Dickinson, Sr., her sister Marguerite Mathis Barger and her brother William ''Bill'' Mathis, Jr. When she was 10 years old, the family moved to Little Rock and affiliated with the First Baptist Church in 1935. She graduated from Little Rock High School and ran her brother's business for years until the grandbabies started coming.
Following an adventurous and happy childhood with her parents and siblings, Carlice met Walter Dickinson, her handsome soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts who was stationed at Camp Robinson. They fell in love, got engaged and mother waited for him until he returned from World War II. They married in 1945 and headed to Ouachita Baptist for a year then transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where both attended and daddy got a law degree in 1950. Mother worked in the ticket office at Barnhill Arena and they loved going to Razorback athletic events. They returned to Little Rock and along came Marilyn, Carolyn, and Walt!
From that point on, mother's primary purpose was her children. She taught us about love by taking us to First Baptist Church downtown every Sunday though we were never on time. She ushered us to practices, rehearsals, recitals, games, and all activities, both church, and school. Mother was a wealth of knowledge and encouraged us to do and be anything we wanted and boy did she offer her advice. We finally all married and along came Michelle, Laura, Gates, Walt Mary, and Will!
The teaching, training, counseling, preaching, nursing, chauffeuring, cheerleading, costume designing, and loving intensified. Her grandchildren brought so much joy. She loved them fiercely and their friends too! Then came Lindsey, Scottie, Miller, and Rileigh. Oh my, did she love the littles!
Our mother loved to shop, shop, shop almost every day. On Saturdays you could find her in her favorite stores with Marilyn, Carolyn, and her sister Marguerite, only stopping long enough for lunch with friends. She also loved to cook and entertain. She was a marvelous cook. In addition to feeding our family, she often served 20-30 people on birthdays, holidays, special occasions, and of course, Sunday night dinners.
Not just her grands and greats called her Mamaw, but friends of all ages called her that and she loved them all.
Carlice is survived by her daughter Marilyn Dickinson Miller, her daughter Carolyn Dickinson Owen, her son Walter M. ''Walt'' Dickinson, Jr., and his precious wife DeeDee, whom mother adored. Survivors also include her grandchildren, Michelle Miller Nichols (Larry); Laura Miller Geurin (Scott); Dickinson Gates Smith; Walter M. ''Walt'' III of Vail, Colorado; Mary Alyce Dickinson of Austin, Texas and William Saeler ''Will'' Dickinson of Little Rock. Her precious great-grandchildren are Lindsey and Miller Nichols and Scottie and Rileigh Geurin. Carlice also leaves behind her nephew Johnny Barger and his family, Matt, Elizabeth, Kaylie, and Kase.
Mamaw was a devoted Christian, teacher, preacher, counselor, nurse, chef, hostess, comedian, entertainer and had a special gift for making every person she met feel loved. Since she was in charge of all of us, we will miss her vibrant, feisty, loving spirit tremendously.
Carolyn and Walt want to thank Marilyn for living with and taking care of both mother and daddy for the last 10 years. We are overwhelmed with love for you and gratitude for all that you have done for our family, Marilyn.
The Dickinson family would like to thank Dr. Kenneth Johnston for his excellent care of mother through the years and to all of the dedicated workers at Kindred Hospice, especially Cathy Norris. And a huge thanks to mother's personal nurse, Terry Collins, whom she loved like a daughter.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Arkansas Food Bank, American Heart Association, or a charity of your choice are appreciated.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m., at Roller Chenal Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 11:00 and the burial will be at Pinecrest Memorial Park at 1:00 p.m.
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Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR 72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com