Sara Grey Atkins Moseley

Sara Grey Atkins Moseley, age 92, of Batesville, died March 19, 2015 at the Arkansas Hospice Inpatient Unit at St. Vincent's in Little Rock with family at her side. Born in Mayfield, Ky. on Dec. 3, 1922, she was the oldest child of Ethel Eva Myrick and Olin McCord Atkins. Her family moved often to follow business opportunities before settling in Paragould, Ark. Sara graduated from Paragould High School where she was voted Most Valuable Student. She graduated from Hendrix College where she was an outstanding student. She participated in many extracurricular activities and was elected homecoming queen and campus beauty. During her college years, she met her future husband, Guy "Bubba" Moseley, of Forrest City. With the advent of WWII, Guy joined the Navy. After college graduation, Sara was employed by IBM as a training technician. At the close of the war, despite an offer from IBM to be part of their Nuremburg Trials team, she left IBM to marry Guy who was now safely on land. They married on Feb. 3, 1946 and were a devoted couple for 66 years. After marriage, Guy became associated with his father-in-law and Earl Van Hook in Van Atkins Department Stores; and after stints in Walnut Ridge and Pocahontas, Guy and Sara and their two daughters moved to Batesville in 1952 to open a store there. They loved Batesville and decided to make it their home. Sara was active in the community. She was an early member of the Batesville Junior Auxiliary, a member of Chapter Z, PEO Sisterhood, a Red Cross instructor, and always a Girl Scout leader for each daughter. She was very involved in the First United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher, women of the church leader, and served on many other committees. She was always willing to open her home for various causes and was a warm and generous hostess. Sara had a real eye for beauty, and her joy was to create a warm, loving, and beautiful home for family and friends. Many friends and family members benefited from her kind heart and ability to be there when needed. Sara loved gardening and was an avid reader; these loves she passed on to daughters and granddaughters. In the early years, the family enjoyed many outings on the White River on the "Happy Days". And later with grandchildren, there were vacations to ranches in the West and beaches in the South. She and Guy were able to travel extensively but loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends. Sara is predeceased by her husband; her brother-in-law, Frank Schreit Jr.; sister-in-law, Fredene Moseley; and niece, Ainsley Atkins. She is survived by daughters, Mary Ann Critz and husband Jay of Little Rock and Susie Farris and husband Phil of Batesville. Grandchildren are Susan Critz Guthrie and husband Paul of Louisville, Ky., Mary Margaret Critz, Sara Ann Farris, Catherine Critz Snyder and husband John, all of Little Rock; Elizabeth Farris Bumpers and husband Fuller of Batesville; Lucy Farris Thompson and husband Paul of Little Rock; and Miranda Critz Greear and husband Fred of Williamsburg, Va. Great-grandchildren are Eva Myrick and Anna Woodson Guthrie, Susan Moseley, Elizabeth Grey and Mary Farris Bumpers, Tasha Bryan, John McDonald III and William Augustus Snyder, Andrew McCord and Sara Katherine Thompson, and Molly Catherine, Elizabeth Moseley, and Charles Bonham Greear. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Ann Schreit of Paragould and her brother, Robert Myrick Atkins of Portland, Ore., as well as beloved nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Sara and Guy considered themselves extremely blessed to have lived long enough to enjoy their family of several generations. They made sure the candy drawer was full at all times, and everyone enjoyed many, many happy hours at their home, especially the porch and pool. Sara lived a life of warmth, beauty, and love. She was a strong and wonderful role model for daughters and granddaughters. We are grateful for the example she set and will be sustained during this time of grief by the many wonderful memories she has left us. At the time of her death, Sara was a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church. Father John Drymon will conduct graveside services at Oaklawn Cemetery on Tuesday, March 24, at 11:30 a.m. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 2255, Batesville, AR 72503; Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116; or Alzheimer's Arkansas, 201 Markham Center Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72205. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.