Mary Jo Slay, age 91 of Marshall, Arkansas died on Friday, September 8, 2023 at Countryside Nursing Home in Jasper, Arkansas. She was born in Pindall, Arkansas on February 16, 1932 to Emmet Elijah Martin and Bessie Victoria McDougal Martin. She married Ben Charles Slay on August 27, 1949. To this union five children were born: Rick, Mike, Bruce, Sandy and Susan.

She loved her family and friends. She especially loved her grandchildren. She was known as “Granny Jo” to all of her grandkids and to all of her friends as well.

She loved to bake and was famous for her apple pies and Bacardi Rum cakes. She was sweet and sassy at the same time.

She worked at the St. Joe School Head Start Program for ten years or more and received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development from ASU in Jonesboro. She retired from the Searcy County Sheriff and Collectors Office where she worked for sixteen years. She was very loved by all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as all her former students at St. Joe School; to this day, they ask about her and remember her fondly.

She was dearly loved by her friends and community; they will always remember her beauty, kindness and friendship.

Survivors include her children, Mike Slay and wife Pam of Valley Springs, Bruce Slay and wife Sharon of Marshall, Sandy Horton of Braselton, Georgia, and Susan Halsted and husband Steve of Marshall; daughter-in-law, Cindy Slay of Marshall; grandchildren, Shane Slay, Samuel Slay (Mariah), Alexandria Gardner (Virgil), Micah Arington (Rachel), Shad Arington (Angela), Tara McKinney (Joe), Heather Ratchford (Derek), Latisha Chadwick (Tyler), Keely Petty (Blake), Caisha Howell (Dustyn), Joel Slay (Katie), Katie Olasz (Andrew), Kasie Brenson (Ray), Josh Halsted (Jennifer), Ashley Halsted, and Hannah Humbard (Garrett); fifty great-grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Emmet and Bessie Martin; husband Ben Charles Slay; son, Ricky Charles Slay; grandsons, Michael Lee Slay and Aryan Slay; sisters, Elsie Trublood (Jim), Hazel Taylor (Gerald), Lee Harris, Lorraine Saling, Helen Gooch (Bill), Rue Taylor (Junior), and Betty Gibson (Fayne); brother, Hugh John Martin; and son-in-law, Cam Horton.

A private family memorial service in honor of her will be held at a later date.