- Date Of Birth: June 15, 1926
- Date Of Death: April 24, 2019
- State: Arkansas
Bernice Raye Sain Muse of Pine Bluff, AR, formerly of Tucker, AR, passed away on April 24 at the age of 92. She was born on June 15, 1926 at Holly Grove, AR. to Walter Branch Sain and Iva Griffith Sain. She attended Holly Grove schools until she was about 12, when her family moved to the Wright Plantation. She graduated from Plum Bayou High School in 1944.
Bernice attended Draughon School of Business in Little Rock and graduated with a secretarial degree. She was proficient in shorthand and key punch operation. She worked for several months at the Pine Bluff Arsenal and then worked in the billing department for AP&L (Entergy) until she married.
On August 17, 1951 she married Clay Paul Muse of Humphrey, AR. They made their home in the Keo and Scott area where Clay was a farmer. In 1957 they purchased a farm at Tucker. Bernice was an avid and accomplished gardener, spending as much time as possible outside. To supplement the farm income, she raised chickens and sold eggs,had a herd of over 100 sheep that produced wool and meat, and raised vegetable plants and houseplants in her green house. Many people said that she could “poke a dead stick in the ground and it would grow” Late fall would find her picking up pecans on her hands and knees from a 10 acre pecan grove that she was very proud of. The winter weather would force her inside, where she made beautiful quilts, sewed, read and heated her house with a wood burning stove.
Bernice continued to live on the farm at Tucker after Clay passed away in 1993. At the age of 86, she was still mowing her yard and running her rototiller to make a garden. Physical limitations began to limit her mobility and in 2015 she moved to Trinity Village Assisted Living in Pine Bluff. She enjoyed making new friends there. In 2016 she moved to Trinity Village Medical Center.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents , her husband and her brother Robert Earl Sain. She is survived by her only child, Deborah Muse Whitaker (Roy) of Pine Bluff, her only grandchild Sarah Enoch (Patrick) of Booneville, AR. Other survivors include her nephew Benny Sain (Becky) of Lonoke, nieces Patricia Lantrip of Lonoke, Terri Sain of Little Rock, Phyllis Muse Baugus (Doyle) of Sherwood and Geneva Muse of Hensley. Also surviving are special cousins Martha McKelvy and Brenda Sturges of Collierville, TN, Mike McKelvy of West Helena, Joe Griffith of Blackton and Little Rock and Thelma Wenning of Pensacola, FL., Buzzy Gibbs (Judy) was so special to her. He farmed to suit her and checked on her everyday while she was still living at home. She leaves behind so many friends at Lakeside United Methodist and Trinity Village to cherish her memory.
The family wished to express their appreciation to the staff at Trinity Village and Hospice Home care for their care and compassion, and especially the members of Lakeside UMC for their support, love and prayers shown to Bernice and her family.
