Mescal Dunn Johnston

MESCAL DUNN JOHNSTON, 90, of Little Rock, retired Food Marketing Specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. Born in Greenwood, she attended Greenwood Schools, Arkansas Polytechnic College, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she received her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in home economics. Mescal was the widow of Frank R. Johnston, who died in 1990. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Mildred Ralston, Lucille Andrews, Geneva Guthrie, and Nyna Keeton. Immediate survivors are a daughter, Marie Burke Johnston, and grandchildren, Brooks Coleman and Ashley Martin. Two great grandchildren, a niece, nephew, and cousins also survive. She was well known for her "Penny Wise Food Buys" weekly column which appeared in several statewide Arkansas newspapers. Johnston also traveled the state as an educator, doing numerous demonstrations and television features teaching the basics of food preparation and economics. After her retirement from the Extension Service, she authored a popular cookbook "Home for the Holidays," published in 1991 by the University of Arkansas Press. She was a member of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and received the Award for Superior Service from the United States Department of Agriculture. Mescal was a faithful member of the Sixth & Izard Church of Christ (later Windsong) in Little Rock. A funeral service will be Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. with John Gipson officiating. Burial will follow in Booneville, Ark., at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at 10 a.m. Memorials may be made to Partners in Progress, in care of Windsong Church of Christ, 3 Maumelle Drive, Maumelle, Ark. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.