Mary Evelyn Lealie-Gardner-Gray, age 71, of Malvern, AR, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012 in Hot Springs, AR. Mrs. Mary was born in Perla, Ar to the late Joel Lealie and Jennie Mae Daily-Barker-Lealie-Lambert. She was helped into the world, not only by her Mother, but also by her Maternal Grandmother, Mrs. Arzola Daily Barker, who was a Certified Mid-Wife in Perla and Hot Spring County. After living for a time in St. Louis, Missouri, the family returned to what they called home, Malvern, where she was reared and educated. Mrs. Mary was of the Baptist Faith and served as Church Clerk and a Member of The Pastor's Aid Organization under the guidance of Rev. Virgil Shelton. During her Secular life she endured employment with Reynold's Metals, Featherlite Manufacturing, Curtis Mathis, and was a Home Health Care Provider. Mrs. Mary always felt her true calling and talents lay in her love of Cooking. This love began at home, where she prepared delicious and varied dishes for her family. She instructed her children in her self-taught culinary arts, and they are grateful to this day for that guidance. She believed that boys as well as girls should be taught to cook to feed themselves and their families when needed. Mrs. Mary shared her cooking abilities over the years with her Community by being associated with some memorable local eateries. The Shack Restaurant; The Taxi Cafe'; and the Magnolia Cafeteria.

Mrs. Mary is survived by her children, Tanya Gray of Dallas, Texas; Wayne Gray of Malvern; Shelia Patton (Ben) of Malvern; Kirk Gray of Dallas, Texas. All of whom she taught to love God and their neighbor, and always, always, always..... to love each other. She has her brother, Joe Lealie (Barbara), of Chicago, Illinois.

Mrs. Mary has nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and a host of very special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Her funeral will be on Friday Morning, July 13, 2012, at eleven o'clock in the Chapel of J.A. Funk Funeral Home with Ben Patton officiating. Interment will follow in Perla Cemetary.

A visitation will precede the service, beginning at ten o'clock a.m.

Pallbearers will be :Corey Caradine I, Kimo Trussell, Kenneth Lealie, Bearl White II, Tyrone Clegg and Derek Smith Robinson.