Martha Jean Kidd

Martha Jean Stephens Kidd, widow of Ralph O. Kidd passed from this life August 09, 2011. She was born May 16, 1918 in Choctaw Arkansas. Martha was the daughter of Sam and Mary Holloway Stephens. Her early years were spent in Choctaw and Conway. Later she went to live with her maternal grandparents so she could take care of her grandmother. She graduated from Nemo Vista High School in 1936. After graduation she enrolled in Chicago Community School of Nursing. After graduation she was hired as nursery supervisor at the hospital. In 1940 she returned to Arkansas and married her husband. Later she was employed at the old UMAC hospital as nursery supervisor, when her husband was transferred to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. She resigned and moved to Walnut Ridge where she was a "scrub nurse" for local surgeon. When the Doctor moved to Florida she was employed at St. Bernard's Hospital, Jonesboro and worked in OB and Delivery. Later her husband changed jobs and they returned to Choctaw, Arkansas after getting relocated Mrs. Kidd began her career as a Public Health Nurse in Van Buren County. A position she held for 37 years. During this time she returned to school and obtained her B.S. degree. As she has said many times" you never get to old to learn." Mrs. Kidd or Miss Jean as she was called was always concerned about people of Van Buren County she worked toward getting better health care and anything else that would make life better for the people. Miss Jean was always doing something for someone buying medicine for some that didn't have money for the prescriptions, buying shoes for school kids who didn't have them especially during the winter months. She would buy tickets so the people could get home to family and their family doctors. Her dad told her if you had a million dollars you'd give it all away. Miss Jean loved to work with the school children and was happy when some come back to visit and bring their kids for her to see. The older people she always had time for and listened to their stories of early years and all the old remedies used during their growing up. Someone asked her what she liked best about Public Health and she said all of it. One incident Miss Jean got a big laugh. She baked sour dough bread and took to her "shut in" friends One little man, who lived alone loved it and looked forward to the next loaf. She was a little late in getting the baking done and he had a neighbor stop by to tell her he was out of bread and she could bring some more any time. "Miss Jean loved her family and showed her love in many different ways. Miss Jean is survived by one daughter Sara Lynn Jones (Nick Jones) two grandsons Phillip (Jenny) Jones and Doug Jones (Jenni), one granddaughter, Jennifer Phelps Jones (Kaylin) and three great-grandsons, two great-granddaughters Lexy Jones and Kayla Meeler all of Choctaw, and one sister, Virginia Cullum. Preceded in death by her brothers Dick and George Stephens and sister Ann Binns. Pallbearers: James Cullum, Sam Cullum, C.L. Mackey, Danny Patterson, Jared Patterson, Sam Shannon, and Richard Stephens. Visitation will be 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 11, 2011 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home Chapel and Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 12, 2011 at Choctaw Church of Christ with Pastor David Cook officiating. Burial will follow at Huie Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.