Mrs. Brenda Kathleen "Rateliff" McMahen

Mrs. Brenda Kathleen (Rateliff) McMahen, aged 78, passed away January 30, 2026, at her home in Mount Ida, Arkansas, surrounded by her loving family. She was born February 05, 1947, in Hope, Arkansas, to parents Ben Rateliff and Lena O. (Crews) Rateliff-Hamiter.

Brenda was an artist; she loved to create watercolor and acrylic paintings. She was also an avid reader and felt the happiest during her visits to the lake and when she was in the North Carolina mountains. She was an animal lover, and a wonderful fur mother to her companion dog, Maggie.

Mrs. Brenda Kathleen McMahen is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Harry Ray McMahen; children, Lee Ann Farnell of Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Michael McMahen of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and Megan McMahen of De Queen, Arkansas; grandchild, Maeli McMahen of Fort Smith, Arkansas; niece, Kathy Rateliff of Little Rock, Arkansas; nephew Patrick Rateliff and wife Keri of Albuquerque, New Mexico; as well as by a host of other family and friends too numerous to mention. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ben Rateliff and Lena O. (Crews) Rateliff-Hamiter, as well as by her brother, Gary Rateliff.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her caregivers to Dana and Donn a with Elite Hospice of Hot Springs as well as to Janet with Elite Hospice of Mena.

Cremation arrangements for Mrs. Brenda Kathleen (Rateliff) McMahen are entrusted to Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 07, 2026, at Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Brother Davis Thompson will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. A visitation will be held an hour prior to the services.