Mary Anne Cruthirds

The world lost an angel, and Heaven gained one with the passing of Mary Anne Bartlett Cruthirds, age 78, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. If Wynne “The City with a Smile” had an ambassador, it would have been Mary Anne. She was proud of her southern roots and her hometown and was known for her generosity and kindness. Always the ‘southern lady’ she was equally at home having dinner with the hunters at Bartlett Duck Club or working to save and restore downtown Wynne with the Downtown Revitalization group. Mary Anne was born April 8, 1945, in Cross County Arkansas. She attended Wynne High School, followed by Arkansas State University where she earned a Master of Science in Ed., and was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. On June 11, 1966, she married her soulmate, Norris Patten Cruthirds at Wynne First United Methodist Church. She worked in Special Ed at Cross County School, and afterwards, shared her high school twirling talents when she opened “Mary Anne’s Majorette’s.” She was a lifelong lover of animals whether it was her beloved show horse Trigger, working with dog rescues, or just painting the hummingbirds outside her window. Other organizations she devoted her time to through the years were the City Arts Council, Garden Club, Progressive Club, Rotary, Gay Kittrell’s Art Class, The Eastern Star, The Wynne Animal Shelter, and as a Sparc Leader at Wynne Intermediate School. She was an avid golfer and worked on the FedEx Golf Tournament every year. More recently, Mary Anne helped to deliver lunches to school children during Covid and volunteered at the Tornado Distribution Center. She was a member of Central Methodist where she played the piano and was church secretary. Mary Anne is survived by her husband of 57 years, Norris Cruthirds; and cousin, Rusty Hathcock and wife Jackie. She was Godparent to their children Brock Hathcock and Blake Hathcock Baker; she is survived by other family members, a multitude of friends, and her walking companion, rescue dog Dots, who walked with her every day. She was preceded in death by parents Jack and Marie (Owen) Bartlett, and half-brother Jack Bartlett Jr. Mary Anne was a rare jewel who was born to make others feel special and she was an inspiration to many. She will be remembered for this special quality, always lifting others up, or just putting a smile on someone’s face with her ‘quirky’ sense of humor. And she will be greatly missed. Visitation will be on Friday, September 22, at 10:00 am at Kernodle Funeral Home, followed by a service at 11:00 am with Rev. Terrie Lee Bunnell officiating. Burial is at Crosslawn Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be directed to Central United Methodist Church care of Glenda Futrell 208 CR 237 Cherry Valley AR 72324 and The Wynne Animal Shelter.

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Mary Anne Cruthirds

April 8, 1945 - September 21, 2023