Jonesboro - Jolyne Hurley McDowra, 90, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019 at St. Bernards Medical Center.

She was born December 12, 1928 in Otwell to the late Joe Hensley Wilkins and Helen Cynthia Covington Wilkins. Jolyne was a member of the First Christian Church in Jonesboro. She received her Master's in Education from the University of Memphis and completed sixty hours of graduate work above her Master's at Arkansas State University. Much of her training work was in Gifted and Talented Education. Her passion was her family and her students. That was reflected by forty years of teaching. After moving to Jonesboro in 1977, she chartered the first gifted and talented program in the Jonesboro School System as well as the State of Arkansas. She always encouraged her students to do their very best and she made them believers in themselves, that they could accomplish anything they set their minds to. She received many letters and calls over the years from students that had indeed reached goals, citing her as the one that helped them succeed. She loved hearing of her student's accomplishments, which included CEO's of major companies, law, medical fields, engineering and many others. No matter what the field consisted of, she was proud of all of her students that had set goals and accomplished them.

She also loved her flower gardens and working in her yard, which she passed down to her children who also have an avid love for gardening. You could find her spending time outside after she retired no matter the weather. If she wasn't in her yard working she could be found walking through her neighborhood that she loved so much, or with her personal trainer at the gym. She believed in taking care of herself and maintaining good health. After her activities and work were done, she could be found several nights a week playing bridge. She loved playing bridge, in sometimes two or three clubs and being with her "Bridge Friends" that meant so much to her. She also loved the Christmas season. She will be remembered by her children, extended family and friends for making each Christmas full of nothing but best memories that were always better than any year before. She never wanted to sit down but instead insisted on waiting on everyone else, making sure everyone had everything they needed and always putting herself last.

She is survived by her children, Lynn Simmon (Bill) of McGehee, Dr. W. K. Sam Hurley of Athens, Texas, Hensley Hurley (Selina) of Justin, Texas, David Hurley (Lori) of Jonesboro and Amy Breedlove (Billy) of Lubbock, Texas; grandchildren, Chris Simmons (Lesley), Ryan Simmons (Erica), Jason Hurley, Hannah Howard (Jordan), Evan Hurley, Joseph Hurley, Ben Breedlove (Brooke) and Will Breedlove; great-grandchildren, Lane Simmons, Carson Simmons, Olivia Simmons and Parker Simmons; a brother, Billy Wilkins of Weiner and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by husbands, William Hurley and Jim McDowra; grandparents, Nathaniel and Lucy Covington and David and Blanche Wilkins.

A celebration of her life will be 2:00 pm Friday, May 10, 2019 at First Christian Church, 2600 Woodsprings Road with Rev. Don Martin officiating. Interment will follow at McDaniel Cemetery under the direction of Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from noon until 2:00 pm Friday at the church.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Joseph Hurley, Chris Simmons, Ryan Simmons, Jason Hurley, Myles Copenhaver and Austin Copenhaver and honorary pallbearers, her bridge club members.

Lasting memorials may be sent to First Christian Church, 2600 Woodsprings Road, Jonesboro, AR 72404.