Mattie Lou Mann Cone

Mattie Lou Mann Cone of Fordyce died Monday, May 13, 2014 at the age of 92. She was born December 28, 1921 in Pine Grove, Arkansas to the late Walter Raney Mann and Ella Barnes Mann. Mattie first moved to the Dallas County seat of Fordyce in 1941 and began working in the Clerk of Court's office as clerk and secretary then at the Ration Board through 1943. Residing for a time in Thornton, she continued working in office management or bookkeeping for various local companies before joining Phelps Dodge Communications Company where she retired in 1983. She was a long time member and devoted president for many years leading the local chapter of the national Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Among many hobbies was traveling with family and friends, watching and recording statistics for basketball as well as football. She loved tending her flowerbeds and playing games like Rumykube, Rook, or dominos. In her youth Mattie played piano at revivals as her brothers sang and later for family gatherings. Mattie is survived by her nieces, Patsy Johnson of Sherwood, Arkansas and Barbara Bridges of Jena, Louisiana; grand-nieces and nephews, Elsie Meaux and Vicky Branton of Lafayette, Louisiana; Jill Drake of Star City and Gary Langley of Harmony Grove; Larry Johnson of Maumelle and Bobby Johnson of Sherwood, Steven Johnson of Dallas, Texas, and Nita Deville of Benton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Bill Cone; siblings Earl, Fred, and Vyrah Mann and Ada Kirkland; and nieces Nancy Hodnett and Earlene Branton. The family would like to express deep gratitude to Hilda & John Smith for their years of tireless friendship and support. Special thanks to Eleanor and Bobbie Watkins as well as the sisterhood of Beta Sigma Phi, the congregations of First Baptist Church of Fordyce and the staff at St. John's Place. Visitation will be Thursday, May 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce and Friday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery. Reverends Rusty Ross and Larry Johnson will conduct the services. Memorial gifts can be made to the Dallas County Museum in Fordyce where several family heirlooms have already been enshrined.