Mary Ann Wills Bemberg

Mary Ann (Wills) Bemberg was born on May 11, 1929, in Wynne (Cross County), Arkansas, the fifth of eight children born to Aaron Floyd and Winifred Floy Wills. After the deaths of both her parents, three siblings remained in Wynne with relatives, and Mary Ann and four siblings were sent to the Methodist Children's Home in Little Rock. Mary Ann remained at the orphanage until she finished high school. She was taken in by an older couple from her church, James Q. and Lucille Boen. She soon met the love of her life and married Gordon Bemberg and they had two sons, Gary and Jeff. Childless, James and Lucille Boen doted on the Bemberg boys and treated them like the sons they never had. They picked out a lot at Lake Norrell in Saline County and built a cabin so that Mary Ann and the family would have a place to spend weekends and holidays. There was always a big celebration on the Fourth of July at the cabin on Lake Norrell and many happy memories were made there. Mary Ann never forgot her roots and managed to stay in touch with her siblings, Jim Wills, John Wills, Dorothy McGregor, Frances McGregor, Jerry Kraus, Frank Crabb and Jack Harrison. Their love for each other endured through tragedy, and though their lives went in different directions, they never gave up on each other. The Wills family gathers every year and will continue to gather to reminisce and celebrate the importance of family. Mary Ann died Thursday, October 29, 2015 at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, the Boens, as well as husband, Gordon Bemberg, son, Gary Bemberg, and grandson, Brad Bemberg. She is survived by son, Jeff Bamberg (Sue), grandsons, Clay (Geri Beth) and Nick Bemberg, great-grandson, Brad Bemberg II, and countless nieces, nephews and friends who adored her. A Celebration of her life is to be held at noon today, Tuesday, November 3 at the church where she was a member for over 60 years, First Lutheran Church, Eighth and Rock Streets in Little Rock. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, 314 E. 8th St., Little Rock, Ark. 72202 or Methodist Children's Home, 2002 S. Fillmore St., Little Rock, Ark. 72206. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501) 224-2200. Mary Ann's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.