Mary A.E. Schnipper

Heaven gained a wonderful master gardener as Mary Ann Evans Schnipper of Hot Springs, Arkansas, departed her Earthly journey on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Mary Ann was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Richard and Eloise Evans, and was proudly raised in North Little Rock, where she grew up and graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1958. After high school, she attended the University of Arkansas, where she was an active and proud lifelong member of the Chi Omega Fraternity.

At the University, she met and married the love of her life, Don M. Schnipper, of Texarkana, Arkansas. After their wedding on June 3, 1961, Mary Ann taught elementary school while Don attended law school. Upon his graduation, they relocated to Hot Springs in 1964 to begin and establish his legal career and their family.

Don and Mary Ann soon welcomed daughters, Caroline and Libby, in the coming years that transformed and enhanced their already busy lives. Mary Ann immersed herself in the lives of her daughters. She made her girls' clothes by hand from birth to college, including many of their formal gowns and thereafter, tons of home decorations like valances, pillows and table covers that are found throughout the Quapaw area and all of Hot Springs. She chauffeured the girls and their friends to all their cheer and school activities. She loved to travel and proudly did so with a Rand McNally Atlas in her lap. She had a tremendous green thumb and considered her plants vital to the home, constantly moving them in and out depending on the season. She adored new recipes and trying them out on Don and the girls. She even figured out how to shuck raw oysters at home with a hammer and screwdriver!

Mary Ann was a dedicated, loyal and lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs, where she played handbells and served on practically every committee or board. She and her entire family are and remain devout and ardent supporters of the University of Arkansas. Oaklawn Jockey Club was also a huge part of their lives, as they loved nothing more than hosting pre-post time Bloody Mary gatherings before heading to the track for the afternoon. Saturdays in the spring were not complete until you visited with them in their Oaklawn box on the finish line!

Beyond her wonderfully decorated home at 850 Quapaw, Mary Ann was in the handbell choir at First United Methodist Church, where, in Don Schnipper speak, "she dinged her dongs." Further, she was active in PEO, Progressive Club and was a founding member of Pacesetters. In her very limited free time, she enjoyed hiking through downtown Hot Springs, West Mountain and beyond with her fellow TOBs, needlepointing, being a Master Gardener, and traveling with the Five States Bar Presidents group. In her later years, she became an active grandmother to Carson, Landon, Reese and Ellie, where her carpooling and snack providing talents again came in handy.

In addition to her numerous activities, Mary Ann was a warm and gracious wife, mother and later grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 60 years, Don M. Schnipper, and her daughter, Caroline Schnipper Muldoon. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Libby and John Vines, of Hot Springs; her son-in-law, Dr. Robert Muldoon; her sister, Judi Evans Dietz, of North Little Rock; her grandchildren, Carson Evans Muldoon, Landon Thomas Muldoon, Reese Catherine Vines and Ellie Justice Vines; and numerous other nieces, nephews and extended family in and around North Little Rock, Texarkana and beyond.

Alongside Don and Caroline, Mary Ann is inurned at the Columbarium at First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs, Arkansas. A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at the church and a reception will follow in the Christian Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if memorials were made to First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901, or a charity of the donors choice.

The online obituary, guestbook and memorial tribute are available athttp://www.GrossFuneralHome.com.

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