Mary Lou Persons

Mary Lou Hayes Persons, 88, of Stuttgart died Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at Crestpark Nursing Home in Stuttgart, Ark.

She was born April 26, 1938, in Stuttgart, the daughter of Turley A. and Thelma May Hayes. She was a graduate of Stuttgart High School and a member of Stuttgart Assembly of God Church. Mary Lou was married to Lester Persons and was a housewife and also baby sat for the public. Later in life she worked at Stuttgart Regional Hospital in the Supply department. She loved to fish and was proud of reading her Bible daily. She was devoted to God and to all of her family.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband Lester Persons, her second husband Scarler Lyons, her daughter Stacy Persons, her son Chris Persons, her sister Helen Hall and her husband Donald, her sister-in-law Pat Hayes, and her brother-in-law Paul Mitchell, brother- and sisters-in-law Leon Persons, Pauline Smith and husband George, Marnell Houghton and husband Bill, Billy Joe and Rona Jean Persons, Brenda Persons, and Gerald and Sandra Persons.

She is survived by her granddaughters Candice (Acie) Sweet and Marissa George Bayless, and her great-grandchildren Cameron Shea Fitzgerald, Braxton Mikael Coleman, Laken Trice Sweet and Kaylee Brookelynn McLemore. She is also survived by her siblings, T.R. Hayes (Carolyn) of Wynne, Sue Mitchell and Ronnie Hayes of Stuttgart and Randy Hayes (Milna) of Blackwell, sister-in-law Holly Persons, brother-in-law Donald Persons, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Forrest Manor from when she was is assisted living, and especially the administration and staff of Crestpark Nursing Home where she made her home and was happy and going full blast for the last two years and to Arkansas Hospice for their care in her last week.

Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Turpin Funeral Home followed by a funeral service, officiated by Bro. Jim Laudell, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Sunshine Cemetery.