Mary Ann Bock

Mary Ann Inman Bock passed away on June 30, 2025, in DeWitt, Arkansas. The daughter of Henry Clay Inman (deceased) and Parthenia Inman Young (deceased), Mary Ann was born on December 3, 1933, in Gillett, Arkansas.

Mary Ann was raised around Tichnor, Gillett, Almya, and Stuttgart area. She attended high school at Stuttgart High School.

Mary Ann was saved at about 12 years old at a church near Nady, Arkansas. She stated that "I didn't learn to live like Christian until I was 17 and attended North Maple Baptist Church." She worked at the Majestic Theater during her teen years and early 20's where she shared the gospel with her friends.

Mary Ann met JB Bock met while she worked at the Majestic Theater. She was walking home and she accepted a ride from JB to take her home. They were married on November 19, 1953, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. After marrying, she attended the Catholic Church for a few years but God told her to return to Almyra First Baptist.

Mary Ann raised four children and helped raise and babysit some of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great nephew Daniel. She left her own unique impression on those who called her wife, mother, "Momma Sissy", Auntie Ann, Sissy, sister-in-law, cousin, teacher, co-worker, Grandma or Grandma Bock and friend.

Mary Ann was not perfect but did try to be a good mom. She felt like she wanted to do better than her mom and wished that her girls would do better than she did. She raised her kids to be independent and self reliant. Mary Ann wanted them to be their own person, not a carbon copy of anyone else. She encouraged them to get an education and/or a good job.

Mary Ann did some amazing things. She got her GED at 33 years old and then went to work as an Outreach Worker for Pine Bluff/Jefferson County EOC. She helped multiple people with getting food and clothes when they were in need. Mary Ann was instrumental in starting a Clothes Closet at the Arkansas County Courthouse in DeWitt so that people would have clothes and shoes to wear as well as nice clothes to go to interviews. She wrote in some notes that were found that "I believe God gave me that job for the purpose of telling others about Jesus." She also stated that the Good Lord gave her a volunteer job during her retirement where she read to children at Gingrich Elementary in Stuttgart."

Mary Ann loved her extended family as well, exemplified by her taking care of her mother and father-in-law for an extended period of time that included overnights after they each had long hospital stays and were confined to bed. She liked family gatherings and even initiated the first Faulkner Family Reunion quite a few years back in Almyra. Mary Ann also took in family when they needed a place to live. Her siblings said, "JB did not realize what he was in for."

She was the best cook and cooked the family's favorite meals. She made the BEST homemade yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls. Your mouth would just start to water at the smell of them. She also made cabbage rolls or pigs in the blanket that she was remembered for in her earlier years. Mary Ann always made sure she had chicken nuggets in her freezer for her grandkids and great-grandkids. She loved to make cinnamon doughnuts from the Pillsbury pop'em biscuits for them.

Kathleen remembers the time she allowed about eight Central Baptist College students to come home with her and somehow, she found the food to feed them four different meals. They all spent the night and experienced farm life and then went to revival with Mary Ann at First Baptist Almyra. She had the biggest smile on her face as this group of young people filled two pews.

Mary Ann loved taking her grand and great-grandchildren to church. She would go get Jonathan, Sarah, Shelly and Trinity and bring them to her house on Saturday night so they could go to church with her on Sunday. She loved to tell or read stories to her children, grandchildren and great-grands. Her children remember her reading “Misty of Chincoteague” to them as a bedtime story. She had a wonderful way of reading and making it interesting.

She loved the unloved. She worked hard to provide. It did not matter what walk of life or the color of your skin; if you needed something and she had the means to, she would help. She also was very good at giving her opinion even if you did not want to know it.

Mary Ann loved her children, grandchildren, great-grand-children and multiple other kids from church and elementary school. She was a Preschool Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Teacher as well as the secretary of her Sunday School Class. If you knew Mary Ann, you were blessed. She will forever be loved and missed by her family and all that knew her.

Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents; husband, JB Bock; grandchildren, Trinity Pirtle and Tiphany England; and siblings, Charles Inman, Earl Inman and Vera Mae Inman.

Mary Ann is survived by her three daughters, Karen Bock Pace of Ethel, Arkansas, Kathleen Wilcox (Bruce) children- Josiah Wilcox and KeriAnna Wilcox of Greenbrier, and Rebecca Thomas (Brad) and daughter Jordan Bock Thomas of Little Rock, Arkansas; one son, John Bernard (Benny) Bock, Jr. of Courtland, Mississippi; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; siblings, William Inman, Vera Eagle Strange and Sonny Young (Carolyn) and many other nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.

Funeral services for Mary Ann are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at Southside Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior. Interment to follow at Almyra Cemetery by Turpin Funeral Home of Stuttgart.