Mr. James Gary Mourton

James Gary Mourton was born the fourth of five children that Malvin and Helen Mourton raised with love, a healthy dose of strong work ethic, and plenty of biscuits. His sister, Helen Marie, made sure young Gary was always presentable and ready for school on time, that one time he baptized the kittens in a rain puddle not withstanding.
Older brothers Wesley and Leon got Gary into the paper route gig early, and Gary followed suit by hauling younger brother Kenneth into the family business. Gary was up folding papers at unholy hours by the age of four, and acquired his own route at seven. The Mourton Brothers' paper route dynasty carried Mena through nearly two decades of news. We're not sure what happened after the last Mourton threw his final paper, but we know the delivery of news in Mena was never the same.
High school life was what you would expect in a small town in the 1960s, with plenty of dime-store Cokes, cruising in the '57 Impala he bought with his paper route money, and keeping tabs on a certain snub-nosed doll who lived across the tracks. Gary asked Gayle Lay out frequently during their years at Mena High School, and she granted him one date each year. Sometimes, that's all it takes. The rest of that time was spent palling around with best friend Danny Miller and other Class of '65 guys. This crew definitely did not hold unsanctioned late-night poker games at Malvin Mourton's office. They definitely did nothing nefarious and definitely have no stories to tell.
After graduating valedictorian of Mena High School Class of '65, Gary headed to the University of Arkansas. His four years in Fayetteville gave him a degree in accounting and a lifelong love of Razorback sports. He also convinced Gayle to move up from Magnolia and get married. The pair made the first of many smart financial decisions, realizing money for a wedding was scarce and better spent on school. They eloped across state lines to Poteau, Oklahoma, where they were married by the judge at the jailhouse, who was elated to perform a late-night civil ceremony. That judge may have doubted a spontaneous marriage between two 21-year-olds would stick. It stuck for 57 years.
After graduating in 1969, Gary and Gayle moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gary worked first for Arthur Anderson, then took a leap with a company called Tribune Swab-Fox, eventually TSF Communications. He became CFO and worked side-by-side with good friends Howard Barnett and Bob Craine for years. When the company was sold in 1999, he retired, but that didn't last for long. He, Howard, and Bob eventually founded a second company, TSF, and continued working together for several years. Gary was a gifted accountant and worked with the highest degree of integrity in business, a testament to the spirit of truth and work ethic his parents instilled in him.
Gary spent those years in Tulsa raising four daughters, who kept him busy with dance recitals, cheerleading performances, tennis matches, soccer games, band concerts, cross-country races, and general shenanigans. When people found out he had four daughters, they often expressed sympathy or asked if he ever wanted a son.
"What would I do with boys?" he quipped. He was proud of his girls.
Gary spent many weekends on the highways to Tahlequah, Fayetteville, and Clarksville to watch soccer games and dance performances. He also became a season ticket holder to Razorback football and basketball games, a highlight of fall and winter, as various family members competed for these coveted tickets. Going to a game with Gary meant you'd have to Call Those Hogs, which he did enthusiastically, and with a smile or laugh at the end. He had a great smile and laugh, and he laughed often.
He loved biscuits and gravy, crisp fall mornings, playing games with the grandkids, and the phrase "There's a little frost on the pumpkins this morning," which he used as often as he could. He excelled at directing the Boston Pops Christmas album from the driver's seat of his car. He loved Christmas and Christmas lights, the occasional snow day sledding run, accompanying the girls on Halloween, and family vacations. He loved to let people be who they are. Through his quiet, steady presence and loud laughter, he imparted the best of himself to everyone who knew him and gave of his time to his daughters' sports teams and school groups.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Malvin Mourton, his sister Helen Marie Foster, his brother Leon Mourton, and his sister-in-law Linda Mourton. Celebrating his life today are his wife, Gayle Mourton, and daughters Jennifer Cecil, Lindsay Foster, Kimberly Mitchell, and Natalie Mourton, as well as his sons-in-law, Tim Foster and David Mitchell. Also celebrating his life are his brothers, Wesley and Kenneth Mourton, niece Cheryl Foster Hall, and nephew Stan Mourton. Gary was blessed with six grandchildren: Esther, Daniel, and Joshua Foster, Joseph Cecil, Abigayle and Allyson Mitchell
The family will hold a visitation at Beasley Wood Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on November 30, 2025. A graveside service will be held on December 1st at 11:00 am at White Oak Cemetery. The family is encouraging those in attendance to wear Arkansas Razorback apparel or the color red to celebrate Gary.