Billie Anne McClary

Billie Anne McClary, 80, a resident of Benton, passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2014. She was a member of Zion Baptist Church. Ms. McClary was a key leader in her church and community for many years. As an administrative assistant to Charles Campbell, County Executive, she was instrumental in writing numerous grants which led to the development of Benton Elderly Housing, Benton Family Health Care Center, and Copper Basin Community Center. She was the secretary/treasurer for the Polk County Baptist Association Women's Missionary Union. At Zion Baptist Church, she was the youth Sunday school teacher for many years, served as Vacation Bible School director, and led GAs and Sunbeams. She was a true servant to the Lord, her family, her church, and her community. From Danny Rogers, a member of her Sunday School Class, "Billie Ann was a most wonderful lady. I have a lot of pleasant memories from my childhood about her. She was such a positive influence on everybody she met." She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Dovie Anne Rogers Howard; son, Andy McClary; sister, Virginia Wiley; brother, Kenneth Roger Howard, Jr. Survivors include her daughter, Carol Anne (Tim) Henry; grandchildren, Tiffany (Scott) Martin, Adam (Whitney) McClary, Jessica (Chris) Tallent, and Seth (Danielle) McClary; great grandchildren, BreAnne Martin, Wyatt Martin, Aiden McClary, Bella McClary, Madelyn Tallent, Addi Grace McClary, Christian Tallent, and Emerson McClary; sisters, Joyce (Elmer) Moorehouse, Sue (Jimmy) Campbell; brother, Eddie (Judy) Howard; daughter-in-law, Sandy McClary; several very special nieces and nephews that she loved as her own. Adam McClary, Seth McClary, Wyatt Martin, and Chris Tallent, Stan Howard and Dean Moorehouse will serve as pall bearers with Aiden McClary and Christian Tallent serving as honorary pallbearers. Funeral services will be conducted at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at Zion Baptist Church with Reverend Harold Firestone and Reverend Scott Martin officiating. Interment will be at 4:00 pm Thursday, November 20, 2014 in Benton Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesday at Zion Baptist Church. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the McClary family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.