Mary Louise Barnes

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Visitation Schedule
Roller Crouch Chapel
405 South Peabody
Mountain View, AR  72560
Friday, April 26, 2024
6:00-8:00 PM
Service Schedule
Traditional
Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church
2308 Sugar Hill Road
Mountain View, AR  72560
Saturday, April 27, 2024
1:00 PM
Cemetery
Sugar Hill Cemetery
Sugar Hill Road
Mountain View, AR  72560
Mary Louise Barnes

of Mountain View, AR

May 8, 1938 - April 22, 2024

Mary Louise (Tharp) Barnes, 85 years old, of Mountain View, Arkansas passed away on April 22, 2024 at Baptist Health Memorial Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Louise was born on May 8, 1938 to William and Nettie Tharp in Mountain View, Arkansas. She graduated from Coachella Valley Union High School in June 1957. On August 9, 1957 at 10:00 pm she got engaged to the love of her life, Ottis Ray Barnes. Her church family put together a wedding for her and Ottis on September 14, 1958 since her family was in Arkansas. They did not have a honeymoon, but did travel back to Arkansas in December for Christmas to tell both of their families they had gotten married. Louise and Ottis had a son, Orbin Barnes and a daughter, Elaine Thomas.
They celebrated their 50th Anniversary before Ottis passed away.

While living in California, Louise spent time taking care of others. She had several families she babysat for and also did house cleaning for several movie stars which included Lucille Ball, Dagwood and Blondie, Hop-a-Long Cassidy and a few others. In 1963, she and Ottis moved back to Mountain View, Arkansas. There she spent most of her working years at Capital-Mercury Shirt Corporation, where she was honored numerous times for her dedication to her job. In 1994 she was honored for a quarter century of loyal and devoted service, working until the factory closed in 1998. She then went to work for Aromatique where she later retired.

Louise loved serving others and helping do whatever she could to take care of the people she loved. For years, during voting seasons you could always find her working the the voting precinct on Sugar Hill. She loved her church, Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member. There she was helping with whatever it was they needed. She would help provide dinners for families, help with Vacation Bible School every summer, clean, take care of Sunday School materials and for years she was the church secretary who kept the minutes for all the church business meetings. As the church grew and they needed more land, she and Ottis donated land to the church so they could serve more people in their community.
She loved being a Grandma to her grandchildren. She would spend time with them, teaching them how to cook, sew, fish, pick the garden along with wild blackberries. Life lessons and teachable moments were some of her favorite memories with her family. Showing them that you put God first, family second, then community was how she lived.

In 2013 she moved to Batesville to be close to her daughter, she and Elaine would travel on many adventures together. Going to places like Branson, Laura Ingles Wilder homestead, Dollywood and Noah's Ark were some of her favorites. After her daughter passed away in 2021 she then moved back to Mountain View where she currently resided.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents, William and Nettie Tharp; her spouse, Ottis Barnes; one brother, Monroe Tharp; one sister, Pauline Tharp and her daughter, Elaine Thomas.

Louise is survived by her son, Orbin Barnes (Marie) of Greenbrier, Arkansas, son-in-law, Michael Thomas of Floral, Arkansas; sister, Bettie Treece and husband, Garner of Mountain View, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Christopher Thomas of Floral, Arkansas, Fount Barnes of Sheridan, Arkansas and Mary Beth Jackson (Leo) of Paragould, Arkansas and 6 great grandchildren, Landon, Mackenzie and Sawyer Jackson, Cheyenne Richardson, Brandon and Ottis Barnes.

Visitation will be at Roller Crouch Funeral Home of Mountain View on Friday, April 26, 2024 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 1:00 pm, at Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.

Pallbearers are Fount Barnes, Landon Jackson, Billy Treece, Rex Blackwell, Roy Green and Brent Thornsberry.

Honorary Pallbearers are Michael Thomas, Leo Jackson, Christopher Thomas, Garner Treece and Steve Blackwell.

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13 Condolence(s)
Jane Reedy
Mountain View, AR
Liked
Monday, April 29, 2024

Thoughts and Prayers for the family. She was a joy to work with at the shirt factory.

Steve Brown
Ponchatoula, LA
Liked
Sunday, April 28, 2024

Orbin, I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mother. She was surely a sweet and wonderful woman. May she Rest In Peace

Paula Jenkins Schnarr
Roseville, CA
Liked
Saturday, April 27, 2024

Dear Family, I send our condolences to Aunt Louise and Uncle Ottis's family. Our visits to Sugar Hill became fewer and fewer over the years but our memories of our family there never dimmed. Love to the Barnes family from the Paul Jenkins family.

Ottis barnes
Kissimmee, FL
Liked
Saturday, April 27, 2024

I will miss you grandma love you

Eddie Powell
Mtn View, AR
Liked
Saturday, April 27, 2024

My thoughts and prayers are with Betty Treece ,Billy and the rest of the family, may God be with all of you guys during this hard time and just know that she in a better place with her husband and daughter smiling down on everyone, my prayers are with you all. Eddie powell

Rebecca Green Lane
Stockbridge, GA
Liked
Saturday, April 27, 2024

My love and prayers to Louise's children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and to the rest of her family.
Louise has been special to me for most of my life. She married my Uncle Ottis when I was a child. I didn't get an opportunity to spend time with her in recent years but my heart will miss her terribly.

Jerry Hale
Mountain View, AR
Liked
Friday, April 26, 2024

My deepest condolences to the family.

Dana Moody Manuel and family
Nixa, MO
Liked
Friday, April 26, 2024

I am grieving for the family of my Aunt Louise. I saw her, in May, at my Momma’s (Linda Barnes Moody) visitation. Treasure moments with the ones you love.

Brenda Roberts
Harrison, AR
Liked
Thursday, April 25, 2024

Extending my love and sympathy to Fount, my new grandson. Married to my granddaughter April 13.

Nicole barnes
Kissimmee, FL
Liked
Thursday, April 25, 2024

We love and will miss you so much grandma

Wanda Vannatter
Mountain View, AR
Liked
Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Louise and I worked together for many years. She was a good friend and one of the best people I’ve ever known.
Prayers for all of her family.

Bethany Rodgers
Fox, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers. Ms. Louise was such a sweet lady. We will miss her at church.

Norma Matthews
Quitman, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Louise was one of Mother's dear friends. She will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Norma and Jackie