Florence Elizabeth (Koch) Mars

Florence Elizabeth Mars, age 98, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2026, at her home.

Born Florence Elizabeth Koch on March 1, 1928, she was the youngest of eight children born to the late Mary Clara Beshoner Koch and Mathias Koch. Raised on Short Mountain in Paris, Arkansas, she attended St. Joseph's Catholic School. At the age of 16, she worked as a nursing assistant at Smith Hospital. A year later, she moved to Oklahoma, where her children were born.

In 1969, she returned to Paris and took a position as Food Service Supervisor at the Paris Retirement Inn. At the age of 70, she began working in the kitchen at Greenhurst in Charleston, Arkansas, and retired at age 89.  She was a gardener and enjoyed reading and crafting after retirement. She made many lasting relationships with co-workers and was loved and admired by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Carl Mars, sons Martin R. Fuller and Robert W. Clinkingbeard, step-son Gary C. Clinkingbeard, sister Pauline Brown, Brothers: Henry Koch, Louis Koch, George Koch, Robert Koch, and Anton “Toad” Koch; grandsons Christopher D. Davis and Stephen N. Adams.

Florence is survived by her daughter, Sue “Clinkingbeard” Swaithes, daughter-in-law Barbara Clinkingbeard; both of the home; her sister, Rose Marie Tolbert; grandson Jamason Fuller of South Carolina, Leo Allen Adams and Jennifer Adams of Yukon, Oklahoma, as well as step-granddaughter Stephanie “Swaithes” Jones and Todd Jones; 12 great-grandchildren; and 25 great-great-grandchildren.

Burial will be at Baxley Cemetery in Paris, Arkansas. No memorial services will be held. Cremation is under the care of Lewis Funeral Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Florence Elizabeth (Koch) Mars, please visit our floral store.