Maurine B. Summitt

Maurine Burch Summitt, a long time resident of Searcy, Arkansas, from 1934 to 2000, died at the age of 102 on June 26, 2008 in Niceville, Florida at the home of her son Paul. She was born the daughter of William Clayton Burch and Priscilla Hunton in Columbia Missouri on November 21, 1905, both of whom predeceased her.
She was homemaker and retired teacher, having taught for 16 years in the elementary schools of Missouri and Arkansas and raised three sons to distinguished careers in dentistry, medicine, and law. Maurine, affectionately called "Mar" by family and friends, was the wife of the late Dr. William Knox Summitt, head of the Education and Psychology Departments of the Harding University at the time he was killed in a hit-and-run accident in New Orleans October 3, 1965. They were married in Taney County, Missouri on August 12, 1931. Her husband first joined the faculty of then Harding College in Morrilton, Arkansas following graduation with a PhD degree in Education from the University of Missouri. They moved to Searcy in 1934 when Harding College moved from Morrilton to Searcy. They resided at 200 Grand Avenue in Searcy, where Maurine continued to reside until September 2000 when she sold her home to Harding University and went to live with one of her sons.
Maurine was survived by a large family.
The first generation includes daughter-in-law Betty Jo Taylor Summitt of Anacoco, Louisiana, surviving spouse of eldest son William (Bill) Weston Summitt, and sons James Knox and wife Eileen Stanton Summitt and Paul Clayton Summitt both of Niceville, Florida. Bill predeceased his mother on August 17, 2003 in Leesville, Louisiana and was buried at Mitchell Cemetery near his home in Anacoco, Louisiana on August 21, 2003.
The second generation includes grandchildren James William and wife Kayla Isgitt of Anacoco, Louisiana; Gerald Wayne Summitt of Conway, Arkansas; and Steven Weston Summitt and wife Lisa Maness of Corinth, Mississippi, all sons of Bill; William Stanton Summitt of Niceville, Florida, son of James and Eileen; Debra Lynn of Portland, Oregon and Jeffrey Scott Summitt of La Jolla, California, adopted children of James; Julia Lynn Summitt and husband Bill Miller of Forest, Virginia; Kathryn Marie Summitt and husband George Tran of Farmville, Virginia; and Ruth Anne Summitt and husband Michael Rosati of Herndon, Virginia, all daughters of Paul.
The third generation are great grandchildren Jennifer Evon, Jessica Lee, William Kyle (children of James and Kayla Summitt) and Joshua Weston Summitt (son of Gerald and Sherry Lowery); Allison Summitt Miller; Jennifer Ruth, Timothy Paul, Rebecca Joyce, Abigail Summitt, and Julia Lynn Tran; and Matthew Michael and Kevin Michael Rosati.
The fourth generations are great great grandchildren Ashlynn Taylor Chaney and Ryllee Addison Summitt (daughters of Jennifer Evon Summitt) and Tylar Alevia Summitt and Logan Skylar Poteet (children of Jessica Lee Summitt Poteet).
Maurine requested that, in lieu of flowers, family and friends direct their generosity to donations to Harding University in her memory.