Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One

Donna Mae McCreary France, 92

Donna Mae McCreary France, of Hot Springs Arkansas, with family at her side, transitioned on January 17, 2018 from being an angel on this earth, to being an angel in heaven.

She was young at heart and lived a full and vibrant life for 92 years until a few days ago, when a severe stroke suddenly took her away from us.

She was a bold and independent pioneer throughout her life. Raised during the depression, she became a very successful businesswoman in Insurance and Real Estate. She was the first woman to be elected as a Director to the Indiana Board of Insurance. She moved from Anderson, Indiana to New Orleans in 1962. There she started the Golden Leaves Book Store with an inventory of only 5 books and developed it into one of the largest Metaphysical Centers in the nation. In 1989 she visited Hot Springs Arkansas searching for a new home.  She opened a 2nd Golden Leaves Center and relocated there.  She always took an active part in her community. She served as a Board Member of the Creative Life Church, and later was a founding member of the Center for Spiritual Oneness. She was an active member of the Urban League, Hot Springs Gallery Walk, Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Malvern Avenue Community Association and the Downtown Merchants Association. She was an active enthusiast and Volunteer of Hot Springs Jazz Society, Stardust Band, Farmers Market Association, Hot Springs Artists Society, Garland County Historical Society and the Association for Research and Enlightenment.

She was focused, detailed and diligent in her business and associations, yet her unique sense of humor and silliness was always present and she was a joy to be with. She was the light for many peoples paths. Her wisdom, as well as her deviled duck eggs, will always be remembered.

Donna is survived by her dear friend and companion, the love of her life, Frank Adams, her brother, Kenneth (Doris) McCreary, her daughter, Jean Jester, her sons, Byron France and Eric (Denise) France. Her grandchildren are Christine (Lester) Jinx, Jessica Ellis, Bonnie (Louis) Dering, Jules France, Mickey (Shannon) Waltz, Tressie Michelle Hoffman, Donna (Michael) Mitrani, Laramie France, Angela Wetherington and Melanie France. She had several great grandchildren. She was a life long animal lover and had two dogs and five goats at this time.

She was predeceased by her parents William Burgess McCreary and Tressie Hittle McCreary, her Brothers Lowell (Sumiko) McCreary, Leroy McCreary, her sister Treva (Russell) Cockerham, and her son, Preston Jay France.

Memorial Services will be held at Center for Spiritual Oneness, 300 Oaklawn, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 on Saturday, January 27th at 2:00 with a reception afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Center for Spiritual Oneness.

Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas, 72076.  501-982-3400

 

3 Comments

  • Patricia Anne Scavo Posted January 26, 2018 6:55 PM

    Donna was always an inspiring friend ………..we met in !999 when I bought the building and moved Blue Moon Gallery there. We had an immediate connection and she will be missed.

  • Yana Freeman Posted January 31, 2018 11:21 AM

    Byron and family, my belated sympathies for the loss of Donna. I was saddened to hear about Donna leaving us so soon. I enjoyed visiting her at Golden Leaves and will miss knowing she is with us on earth. My love and prayers to all of you and may she soar with the Angels and be in peace until we all meet up with her again. (Had it not been for the loss of my husband and coming to this site for his memorial I wouldn’t have known Donna had passed). <3

  • Kristal S Clark Posted February 28, 2018 7:54 PM

    Ms Donna was quite versed in her knowledge when asked a question about a certain topic at Golden Leaves. She was intuitive with people in which i was one of those “gifted” people that she picked out. Her words of wisdom in our dream class i will always remember ☺

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