Clara Mae Wood Hinson

Clara Mae Wood Hinson, of Searcy, Arkansas formerly of West Monroe, LA passed away peacefully on March 14, 2017.

Visitation will be Friday, March 17, 2017 at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe from 12 - 2:00 pm with the funeral service following at 2:00 pm with Dr. Mark Fenn of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Hasley Cemetery, West Monroe.

Clara was born in Marion, LA to Audrey Irene Tucker and Louis Andrew Wood on July 28, 1916. She grew up in Farmerville, LA, graduating from Farmerville High School and attended Dodd Women’s College of Shreveport. She married the late Wallace W. “Buster” Hinson on April 30, 1935 in Bastrop, LA and they were together for 67 years until his death.

After taking care of her home and daughter full time, Clara worked in the banking industry for 15 years until she retired as the Vice President at Monroe Building and Loan in 1979. She was actively involved in her church community at First Baptist Church, West Monroe for 71 years and then attended First Baptist Church, Searcy AR for her remaining days. She took many trips and participated with the Keenagers at FBCWM and was a faithful attender in her Sunday School classes at both. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, and sewing. She enjoyed walks and was a member of the Glenwood Mall Walkers, being awarded for logging over 100 miles in her walks there. She religiously worked the crossword puzzle in the local paper daily, but none of these compared to the time she enjoyed being with her family and friends.

Clara is survived by her daughter, Libby Taylor and husband Jesse Taylor of Searcy, AR; granddaughters, Deanna Atkinson of North Little Rock, AR, and Kim Cleveland and husband Matt Cleveland of Searcy, AR; great-grandchildren, Miles and Grant Atkinson and Allison and Dylan Cleveland; numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends.

Clara is preceded in death by her parents, Audrey and Louis Wood; her husband, Wallace W. “Buster” Hinson; infant daughter, Nancy Claire Hinson; and siblings, Chlois Simmons, Robert “Son” Wood, and Avalyn Young.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Baptist Church in Searcy, AR or West Monroe, LA.