Alexander, AR - Mary Donovan, a 12 year resident of the Saline County area, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, the 31st of October at Saline Memorial Hospital.

Born in 1942 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  In 1949, at 7 years of age her family moved to Amboy, Minnesota.  Then, at 13 years of age they moved to Winnebago, Minnesota- where she graduated from High School.  She moved up to the Minneapolis, Minnesota area after graduating and resided there for the next 28 years.  In 1988, she and her daughter Jennifer, moved to Lynden, Washington to be closer to her two sisters and her mother.  In 2007, she moved to Alexander, Arkansas to be close to her grandchildren.

Mary was a devoted and hard-working single mom who worked for 18 years as a daycare provider in her home.  Later in life, she was a care provider for the elderly, as well as a number of other clerical jobs.

Mary loved to play board games, especially Scrabble.  She loved to sing hymns and sang in her choir at church.  She was a very active member of the Bryant Senior Center and competed regularly in their Quiz Bowls and Spelling Bee.

Mary loved her family deeply.  She loved her Jesus even more.  She loved to laugh and she was always making others laugh, as well.  Everyone that met her, loved her and she had a beautiful smile that would light up a whole room.

Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Paige Carlson; her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Andrew Baltzley; her four siblings - Lowell Wrucke, Bob Wrucke, Katherine Wrucke, and Ruth Freeburg; and her seven grandchildren - Gabriela Fleming (27), Alexandra Baltzley (23), Joshua Baltzley (21), Macelyn Baltzley (17), Samuel Baltzley (15), Remy Carlson (14) , and Joseph Baltzley (13).

The funeral service is open to anyone and will be held at the Dial and Dudley Funeral Home located at 4212 AR-5, Bryant, AR 72022,  on Thursday, November 7th at 1:30 pm.  There will be a viewing and visitation from 12:30 - 1:30 and a light reception will be held at the funeral home following the service.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that you make a donation to World Vision - A global Christian humanitarian organization. They partner with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.