Mary Lillian Allen Belton passed away July 10, 2023 at the age of 90 in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born June 12, 1933 to Mary Lillian Lewis and John Wesley Allen. Mary Lil graduated from Ruston High School in 1951 as valedictorian. She played the flute in the RHS band and prided herself on attending every class reunion through #70.
Mary Lil married Don Belton after church one Sunday night in 1952. They had 62 years together until his death in 2014.
Also preceding Mary Lil in death are her parents and brothers James Allen and Bruce Allen. She is survived by the “5 K’s”: Kim & husband Bill Phillips of Springdale, AR, Keith & wife Maria Longa of Valrico, FL, Keri & husband Alan Grafton of Moore, OK, Kevin of Shreveport, LA and Kirk & wife Jamie of Kingwood, TX. Mary Lil was “Mema” to grandchildren: Lee Anne & Ron McDonald of Olive Branch, MS, Robbie & Carissa Phillips of Charlottesville, VA, Jon & Pamela Grafton of Tulsa, OK, Jared & Tiffany Grafton of Moore, OK, Kelly & Nick Ducote of La Grange, OR, Zach Belton of New York City, NY, Nate Longa-Belton of Valrico, FL, Kim Hernandez & Maddy of Kingwood, TX, Cassy Walden of Kingwood TX and Preston & Amber Johnston of Springdale, AR; great-grandchildren: Annabelle Grafton, Owen Ducote, Alexis Johnston, Ayden Johnston and Averie Johnston; sister-in-law Martha Hendrix; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mary Lil loved to garden in her yard in the Antioch Community of Simsboro, LA. She was driving a tractor on the property the day before moving to assisted living at the age of 83. Mary Lil loved people and was often accused of “working the room” at any event. She never met a stranger and invited everyone she met to come over for a visit over coffee and cake. Mary Lil enjoyed keeping detailed journals noting everything from the people she met to the groceries she bought.
Mary Lil worked in several departments at Louisiana Tech, including Engineering, Nuclear Engineering and Math before eventually retiring from the Prescott Memorial Library. She made a point of inviting Tech students to church suppers and into our home for home cooked meals.
During retirement, she and Don wrote several new chapters…RVing all over the US with the Good Sams Club, enjoying music festivals wherever Don & his bands would play, square dancing and raising the 5 K’s furry siblings who were quite often her favorites.
Mary Lil served on multiple committees at her churches. She was a trained CNA and Stephen Minister.
Mary Lil decided to move to Rogers, AR and entered assisted living where she lived for six and a half years before relocating to a memory care facility in Oklahoma City this past May.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: 4 Paws Rescue, In Memory of Mary Belton, 290 Rodeo Rd, Ruston, LA 71270 or to Antioch Community Church, P.O. Box 143, Simsboro, LA 71275.
Funeral services for Mary Lil will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA with Rev. Steve Fowler officiating. Burial will follow in the Antioch Cemetery in Simsboro, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston. Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 PM, Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the funeral home.
