Mary Louise Blakley

On October 17, 1935, the world was changed forever when MARY LOUISE LOOPER was born in downtown Little Rock, Ark., to Reverend Sam and Mrs. Lorene Johnson Looper. Mary was a woman of many words and talents. Her mother often said that she couldn't remember Mary not being able to talk, even as a small child. A southern cook, who was as tough as nails, Mary was raised making tamales in her parents' local business "Looper's Hot Tamales", and whatever she cooked always tasted better because it was made by her. There is no way to truly know how many lives she touched through her food and thoughtfulness. Mary loved to travel and to have fun, especially with her cousins/best friends Leroy and Louise Haney. On family vacations to Disney World, Silver Dollar City, and Six Flags, she may have even ridden more rides than her grandchildren. She loved well, especially her family, close friends, and her church, First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock. On December 9, 2022, Mary made her final journey to her eternal home that she had been longing for since suffering a debilitating stroke in 2018 that took her speech. She is preceded in death by her parents, the love of her life Donald Richard Blakley, two sons Robert and Van Blakley, grandson Nicolas Blakley, brother, Rev. Buddy Looper, and a special daughter-in-law Sharon Blakley. She is survived by her daughter Alta Blakley Mullinax (Tim) and sons Donald Blakley (Deborah), John Blakley (Ann), and Rev. Michael Blakley, Sr. (Beverly); sister Shirley Cypert; eight grandchildren: Van, Donald Joe, Jeremiah, Chris, Kristy, Michael, Lyndi, and Brandon; grand-nephews Roger and Sammy Cypert, 25 great-grandchildren, and a host of extended family and friends. A visitation will occur Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m., and a celebration of life will take place on Wednesday, December 14th at 10am at First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock. Please visit www.smithfamilycares.com for the online guestbook.