Mary Alice Arth

Mary Alice Copeland Arth was born on December 24, 1926, to George Reeder Copeland and Mattie Alice Jones Copeland in Nashville (Howard County), Arkansas.  She died on November 16, 2018 in Bryan Texas.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Frances Helen Copeland, her sister and brother-in-law Reda and Bill Stroup and her brothers and sisters-in-law Olin and Millie Copeland and George and Lottie Copeland. In 1933, Mary Alice and her family moved from Arkansas to a farm in Wharton County.  She helped on the farm and with younger siblings and also graduated salutatorian from Wharton High School in 1943.  After high school, she attended Durham Business College in Houston.  On July 20, 1947, she married John Wallace Arth of Wharton and they had three children: Mike, Ross and Nancy.  John preceded her in death on September 20, 1997. She began her work career as a bookkeeper and secretary for Murphy Davis Company and later worked for Worthing Insurance Company, Wharton Independent School District, South Texas Butane and her brother Jones Copeland.  In 1968, she began working for First Baptist Church of Wharton as Church Secretary, Financial Secretary and Office Manager where she remained until her retirement in 1996.  She was a long-time active member of FBC and served as a Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study group member and a WMU member.  Mary Alice loved her family and friends and her church family, as well. Mary Alice is survived by a family that will miss her deeply including her three children Mike Arth and wife Candy of Brenham, Ross Arth and wife Lou Ann of College Station and Nancy Sharrock and husband Paul of Bryan, Ohio.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Ann Carolyn Williams and husband Ben, Andrew Logan Sharrock and Hudson Taylor Sharrock.  Her three great grandchildren, Reid McCoy Williams, Davis James Williams and Mae Bradford Williams survive her, as well.  She is also survived by her brother Jones Earl Copeland.  In addition, she will be missed by her many nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers are:  Steve Copeland, George Copeland, Claude Copeland, Bill Copeland, Andrew      Sharrock and Hudson Sharrock Honorary Pallbearers are:  David Copeland, Jon Copeland, Billy Copeland, Jeff Copeland, Joe Copeland, Susan Raines, Marilyn Adams, Jennifer Hart, Liz Reed, Frankie Leisering, Shirley Wheeler and Letha Petrash.   Those who wish to do so may make contributions in Mary Alice’s memory to First Baptist Church, 507 N. Fulton, Wharton Texas 77488. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 24 beginning at 9am at First Baptist Church of Wharton with the funeral service beginning at 11am at First Baptist Church with Rev. Dale Pogue and Dr.Donnie Melton officiating.   A Graveside Service will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Wharton.