Mary Willett

(From Fohn Funeral Home)

Mary Elizabeth Willett, age 89, of Cassville, Missouri passed away Friday, January 30, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Aurora, Missouri.

She was born on September 17, 1936, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the daughter of Theodore Franklin and Eunice Emery (Bushong) Spence.

Mary attended and graduated from Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. In 1954, she married Dean Martin and the couple had two children, Sharon and Bobby. 

Mary worked as a Licensed Hearing Specialist for 32 years. She was a founding member of the Arkansas Hearing Society and served as the secretary and president. Mary began her career at Beltone of Jonesboro and Jonesboro Hearing Service before venturing out and starting her own business. In 1974, she opened NW Arkansas Hearing Service in Rogers, Arkansas. She eventually expanded to Bentonville, Arkansas, Bella Vista, Arkansas, Noel, Missouri and Grove, Oklahoma. In the summer of 1988, she married J. Foster Willet in Jonesboro, where she also worked in real estate. After Foster passed away on May 26, 1992, Mary moved to Cassville, Missouri to be closer to her children. She was known for being a wonderful hostess and entertainer. Mary enjoyed spending time outdoors, playing golf, fishing, and caring for her flowers. As a pre-teen, she became a born again Christian and later joined Poplar Baptist Church in Rogers, Arkansas.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Eunice Spence; her husband, Foster Willett; her son, Bobby Dean Martin; her granddaughter, Jennifer Hopkins; her brother, Johnny Spence and her sisters, Lucille Hall, Ann VanWinkle, and Francis Foreman.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Hopkins and husband Jimmy of Cassville, Missouri; grandsons, Vincent Whitman and wife, Tara, of Nixa, Justin Martin, Branson; granddaughter, Leslie Wilson of Fort Smith and great-grandchildren, Gracie and Emma Garr, of Fort Smith, Ally Martin of Ozark, Missouri and Lilly and Gunnar Ecklund of Nixa, Missouri and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held later in April. Cremation arrangements are under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, Missouri.