LaDonna K. McCormack

LaDonna K. McCormack of Benton died Friday, July 4, 2014, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark. She was born on July 13, 1941 to Grady and Louise Talkington Kinder in Moreland, Ark. (Pope County). She graduated from Dover High School and Arkansas Tech University. She was a teacher for 32 years having taught in Dover, Bauxite, and retiring from Benton High School as an English teacher. She was also co-director of Jolly Time Pre-School at the First United Methodist Church in Benton for 10 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Benton for 50 plus years and was a very active member of that church. She taught Sunday School classes, directed Vacation Bible School, was a member of several committees, and chaired both the Administrative Board and the Staff-Parish Relations committee. On May 28, 1994, LaDonna married Dr. Dean McCormack who survives her. Other survivors are her children, Dr. Hal Hughes (Becky) of Oak Ridge, Tenn. and Julie Hughes (Dr. Mark Lawson) of Ithaca, N.Y.; Dean's daughters, Rev. Deanna McCormack of Camden, Ark. and Meredith McCormack of Benton, Ark. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Dawson and Sophia Hughes, Brennan, Isaac, and Ava Lawson, and Harrison McCormack. Other survivors are her sister, Mary Johnson of Moreland, Ark.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jaunice and Richard Griffin of Fort Smith, Betty Bassett and Paul McCormack of Benton, and Maida and Joe McCormack of Joliet, Ill.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends survive her as well as the father of her children, Richard Hughes. LaDonna had many hobbies she enjoyed including playing bridge with two different groups, working crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy daily, reading, playing video poker, playing and watching tennis, watching college and professional football, basketball, and baseball. She and Dean enjoyed traveling with friends nationwide plus Europe, Canada, and Caribbean and Alaskan cruises. They also attended most Razorback games both at home and away with their neighbor for many years, Arlene Rainey. She was a member of The Tuesday Club (a study club) and was a founding member of the Roundtable Sunday School Class at her church. She was also a founding volunteer of the Clinton Presidential Center. LaDonna loved life and was known for going into "Plan B" if "Plan A" did not work. She enjoyed doing things with her many friends such as going to lunch with her Birthday Group. We give thanks for her caring doctors: Dr. Bruce Murphy, Dr. Wilson Wong, Dr. Steve Hutchins, and Dr. John Ransom as well as her wonderful, efficient nurses. Cremation is under the direction of Ashby Funeral Home. Services will be at First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at 10 a.m. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Roundtable Sunday School Class, Brad Collatt, James Herzfeld, Dr. Hal Koppel, Tommy McClain, and Dr. Bruce Murphy. If you are inclined to make a donation, please do so to the Jeff Mattingly Foundation, the First United Methodist Church of Benton, or the American Heart Association. The family also encourages you to be blood donors to the American Red Cross in appreciation of the close to 300 units of blood LaDonna has received over the past three years.