Mary Kathleen Birrell, age 70 of Benton , died Monday morning, December 21, 2009 in the Arkansas Health Center near Benton . She was born on January 7, 1939 in Cash, Arkansas to the late John Edward and Mettie Dement Hawkins. Reared and educated in Cash, she had lived in Benton since 1995. A homemaker, she was the widow of the late Carlton James Birrell, to whom she was married on November 7, 1958 in Peoria , Illinois . He preceded her in death on September 12, 1994. Mrs. Birrell attended the North Side Church of Christ in Benton and was a member of the Sisters in Service. She loved to embroider and make quilts and was an avid worker of word puzzles.

She is survived by a daughter, Sue and her husband Drew Cabe of Benton; by a son, Jim Birrell of Rock Island, Illinois; by four grandchildren, Jacob and Ethan Cabe, Eric Flores, and Danielle Birrell; by three great-grandchildren, Riley and Jeremy Birrell, and Kaleb Flores; by two brothers, Paul Hawkins of Rock Island, Illinois, and Harrell Hawkins of Johnston, Iowa; and by two sisters, Joy McQuay of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Gertie Hathcoat of Brookland, Arkansas.

Mrs. Birrell was also preceded in death by four brothers, Leon and Robert Hawkins, and Alvie, and Pete Osterman.

She will be buried beside her husband in Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline , Illinois , under the direction of Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home of Rock Island, Illinois.

Local arrangements and transit services are provided by J. A. Funk Funeral Home of Malvern, Arkansas.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.