Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Magie

Elizabeth Anne (Betty) Rice Magie, 84, of Cabot, died Monday, March 26, 2012. She was born Aug. 28, 1927 in the Furlow community in Lonoke County, Ark. to Louis and Shellie Hicks Rice. After her junior year at Lonoke High School, she attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville while courting her sweetheart, Cone Magie, who was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The couple married Feb. 4, 1945. In 1955, the Magies moved to Cabot and founded the Cabot Star newspaper. They soon purchased the Cabot Herald and merged the two into the Cabot Star-Herald. Betty worked alongside Cone in their family publishing business for 50 years, also acquiring the Lonoke Democrat, Carlisle Independent, Jacksonville Daily News (Patriot), and the Sherwood Voice. Magie helped pioneer women journalists in Arkansas, held offices in Arkansas Press Women and was chosen Arkansas Press Woman in 1979. She served as president of the Arkansas Press Association in 1988, and along with Cone, was named Arkansas Journalists of the Year in 1991 by the UALR Journalism Department, and inducted into the Lemke Journalism Alumni Society Hall of Honor at the University of Arkansas in 2005. She was honored with the National Federation of Press Women's 1979 Woman of Achievement and the National Newspaper Association's McKinney Award for Outstanding Community Journalism Woman in 1988. Magie was instrumental in founding the Arlene Cherry Memorial Library in Cabot and served on the Lonoke County Library Commission. She was the Cabot Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 1984. The couple's hobby was traveling and sharing their experiences through articles they wrote for the newspapers. Perhaps their favorite destination was a night at the White House at the invitation of President Bill and First Lady Hillary Clinton. She was a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, and along with her husband, loved promoting their home state. After selling the newspapers in 2006, she remained active in the Arkansas Silver-Haired Legislature, AARP and CareLink. She was an active member of Cabot United Methodist Church since 1955. Magie was preceded in death by her husband, Cone; twin sons, Larry Cone and Gary Louis; and a brother, Robert E. (Bob) Rice. Survivors include two daughters, Shelly Magie Moran of Cabot and Connie Magie Buckingham of Van Buren; one son, Mark Magie of Little Rock; seven granddaughters, Kelly Terwege and husband Mike of Lucas, Texas, Leslie Stewart and husband Tadd of Fort Smith, Beth Buckingham of Boca Raton, Fla., Sarah Khan and husband John of Lawrence, Kan., Meagan Walker and husband Scott of Texarkana, Emily Buckingham and Mallory Magie, both of Fayetteville; five great-grandchildren, Scarlett and Jack Terwege of Lucas, Texas, Isaac Pacheco and Heidi Stewart of Fort Smith, and Bodhi Stone of Boca Raton, Fla.; one brother, Charles J. (Bill) Rice and wife Lois of Lonoke; two sisters-in-law, Liz Rice of Tupelo, Miss. and Grace Magie of Heber Springs; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Jimmie John Magie of Morrilton and Richard Casey Magie of Winnellie, Australia. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 27 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 28 at Cabot United Methodist Church with interment at Concord Cemetery in Furlow. Memorials may be made to Cabot United Methodist Church or a favorite charity. Arrangements are by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home (501) 843-5816. Please sign our online guestbook at www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com.