Agatha Emma Tarver

Agatha Emma Tarver, 79, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, October 15, 2007, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Survivors include: Her husband: William Tarver and 8 children: Lucy Wilder, Jane Frein, Mary Tarver, Dennis Tarver, Tricia Kilzer, Phyllis Cook, Paul Tarver, and JoAnn Charette. She is also survived by twin brothers, Richard and Robert Vogel, and two sisters, Genevieve Plesko and Bernice Soltis; seventeen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Agatha was born in Streator, Illinois, on February 24, 1928 to John and Bertha Vogel. She graduated from Streator High School and St. Francis Nursing School in Peoria, Illinois. She worked for the Red Cross as a polio nurse during the epidemic in the early 1950s. Agatha married William Tarver on February 27, 1954, in Harlingen, Texas.

She was a devoted wife and mother. She was active in the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church as a member of the Altar Society and Parish Council. She was also involved in Scouting as a leader. She volunteered for several years at the Pregnancy Problem Center as a counselor. As an outgrowth of that ministry, Agatha founded “Motherhood,” a clothes closet for pregnant women that provides maternity, baby, and children’s clothes.

The funeral Mass will be held Friday morning, October 19 at 10:00 at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be held Thursday evening, 5-7, at Emerson Funeral Home Chapel. Rosary will be at 7:00.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Motherhood, c/o Blessed Sacrament Church, 614 S. Church Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401.

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