Obituaries

Myra King Johnston

Myra King Johnston passed away Sunday, February 15, 2015. She was born July 5, 1918, in Clarksville, Arkansas, the daughter of Lillian Hunt and Evander A. King. Myra graduated from Clarksville High School in 1935 and Hendrix College in 1939. Following graduation, she taught in the Dardanelle school system for a short period, then worked in the Johnson County courthouse as an assistant to her father in the treasurer's office. With war on the horizon, she went to Washington, D.C. with a number of other county "girls" to become one of Mr. Roosevelt's "government girls." She worked in the War Department until they were moved to the Pentagon before the construction was completed. She returned to Arkansas in 1955. In 1971, she opened the Hole in the Wall bookstore and gift shop on Main Street. There she became acquainted with many of the college students from all over the world. This gave her the excuse to take a trip to Malaysia to attend a wedding and meet the parents of those students. Following her retirement, she continued to travel. She particularly enjoyed a trip to the south of France with her daughter, Deborah. In 2001, she was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow medal by the local Rotary Club. In December 2012, she was recognized by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture as maintaining a working farm for over 100 years. This was the first year for this award to be given. She was a member of the American Association of University Women in Virginia and Arkansas. Also, she was a member of a Clarksville chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Myra is survived by daughters: Cindy (Bob) McFarlane of Little Rock, and Deborah (Larry) Christian of Hot Springs Village; and grandchildren: Caitlin and Carey Williams and Chuck Hartlein. Also surviving her are great-grandchildren: Scott, Dakota, Chelsea, and Kurstie. She was predeceased by husbands, John F. Nesline, Cecil Johnston, and Larry Brown; sister, Ruthella; and brother, Evan. Visitation will be 6-7 p.m., Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville, Arkansas. Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Arkansas, with Reverend John Palmer officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Clarksville, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations to the University of the Ozarks, Hendrix College, or the Johnson County Historical Society in Myra's memory would be appreciated.

Published February 19, 2015

Upcoming Events