Mary Jane Davidson

Mary Jane Ryan Davidson, age 83, of North Little Rock, Arkansas formerly of Gurdon passed away Saturday, September 18, 2010 following a brief illness. Mary Jane was born in Gurdon, Arkansas, January 24, 1927 to the late Alvin J. and Anna (Edmonds) Ryan. Mary Jane graduated from Ouachita Baptist College where she excelled in academics. She was a member of the Kewpie Club at Ouachita and was Homecoming Queen in 1946 and also in 1948. For the past several years, she enjoyed Luncheons with her "Ouachita Girls" group. Following graduation from Ouachita, she began her teaching career in Gould, Arkansas. The following year, and until 1963 she taught in Gurdon, Arkansas. Moving to North Little Rock in 1963, she continued her teaching career in the North Little Rock school system. While teaching full time, she returned to college at University of Central Arkansas and earned a degree in counseling. She remained with the North Little Rock schools, as teacher and, later Guidance Counselor, for 34 years. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Actively involved in the lives of her grandchildren, she also found time for volunteer activities. As the grandchildren grew up, she devoted more of her time to her volunteer activities. Beginning at the Hayes Center the day it opened, she worked every Tuesday until two weeks before her death. Mary Jane was also involved in the Care and Share Ministry of Faith Baptist Church, where she received the Paul Hogan Care and Share Award for Outstanding Volunteer Work in 2004. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ross Edward Davidson and son, Kerry Edward Davidson. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family and friends, including her daughter, Ayn Robertson and her husband Carl of Munford, Tenn.; one brother, Rodney Ryan and his wife Mary Ella of Fayetteville, Ark.; four grandchildren, Christopher Robertson and Ryan Robertson and his wife, Melissa all of San Diego, Calif., Samantha Davidson Gardner of Harrison, Ark. and Ross Tyler Davidson of Little Rock, Ark., two great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Payton Robertson of San Diego, Calif. Memorial Service celebrating her life will be 10am, Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Faith Baptist Church on Camp Robinson Road in North Little Rock, Ark. Graveside funeral service will be following the memorial service at 3 p.m. at Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon, Arkansas under the direction of Pharr Funeral Home of Gurdon. Memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Pulaski County Humane Society, or a charity of the donor's choice. The online guestbook is available at www.pharrfuneralhomes.com.