Judy McCarty Ervin

On the morning of May 23, 2026, Judy Carolynn McCarty Ervin opened her eyes into God’s presence. Can you imagine the glorious sights she must be seeing?! You can too, by asking Jesus into your heart at this very moment! God sent His only son to die for our sins, that we may not die, but have eternal life. If you need any help with praying this prayer, please reach out to any of her family or church. They would be honored to pray with you.

Judy was born Feb 24, 1952, to William Earl and Vernal LaBarr McCarty. She was the only daughter of the couple in their later life. This and the fact she was the only grandchild on the LaBarr side, she was doted on. She was a Brookland Bearcat volleyball player, cheerleader, and homecoming queen. She adored her Granny, Orah and her uncle, Elvin, who she affectionately called “Uncle”. She spent her days between her parents’ grocery store and her Granny’s house, until she met one of her best friends in the 6th grade, Debbie Ervin, sister of Larry. When Larry met Judy, he held her hand to help her down the stairs and he knew he would marry her. He said he felt an electric shock when he touched her hand. She denied, for the past 55+ years, feeling it too, but when asked about it, her face said she did.

She and Larry were married on September 5, 1970. Larry went to basic training the next morning and then was stationed in Germany. His beloved bride joined him there and finally returned to Caraway to build their lives, family, and business over the last 56 years. They had their daughter, Michelle, and 3 years later their son, Chris. Being their mother was her greatest role, just behind her starring role as a wife to their dad, and being Memaw to her grands, well that was a tie.

She attended the college of business at ASU after graduation at Brookland and decided to join the family business, because the commute was long and gas was high in the 70’s. She worked the family business, Ervin Enterprise, with her in-laws, Kenneth Leon and Roberta Wood Ervin and alongside of her husband for over 50 years. She also worked with her sisters-in-law, Debbie Ervin, Cathy Whitley, and Thelma Ervin for many of those years. The Ervins and Woods became her family and loved her as such.

She was a member and now the Pastor of Caraway Community of Christ Church. Her church family was her family too. Her faith was evident in every conversation she had or anything she was involved in. Such as serving as a group leader of Celebrate Recovery in her church.

She loved the beach, cruises with her family, and her favorite trips were with her besties, Becky and Loretta.

In this last year, she has fought rectal cancer and won on April 15,2026. Two weeks ago, she was declared cancer free! Having her grandkids work the family business was such a blessing to her. She smiled ear to ear when speaking of them. She enjoyed shopping, getting mani-pedis, any type of road trip, family get togethers, telling stories from the past and especially laughing and telling her family how much she loved them.

Judy left behind her husband of 55 years, Larry Kenneth Ervin, her daughter, Sarah Michelle Ervin Sneed, her son, Christopher Lee Ervin, her son-in-law Chad Ray Sneed, and her sweetest granddaughter, Addison Grace Sneed, and precious grandson, Cash Ayden Ervin Sneed, and bonus grandson, Jackson Roddy. They were her whole heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grandmother and uncle, her paternal grandparents, James W. and Martha McCarty, her 3 half-brothers, James, Harold, and Wilburn McCarty, her half-sister, Shirley McCarty and her baby brother Lee Underwood, her in-laws, and her best friend/sister-in-law, Debbie.

The visitation will be Thursday, May 28th at 1:00 pm with the service following at 2:00 pm at the Caraway Community of Christ church. Burial will follow at the Caraway cemetery.

Pallbearers are Chris Earnhart, Bishop Whitley, Blake Hawkins, Jeremy Smith, Travis Anderson, and Justin Ladd. Honorary pallbearers are Corey Couch, Ray Hightower, David Shepard, Joey Caprio, Don Zell, and Ronnie Williams.

The Ervin family would like to thank everyone who has prayed, called, visited, provided meals, and have done many other acts of love for them.

For lasting memorials you may donate to the Caraway Community of Christ Church, their food bank, or Caraway Celebrate Recovery program. The address is PO Box 426, Caraway, Arkansas,72419. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.