Lois Margaret (Curtner) Carr, age 92, of Jonesboro, passed away on Wednesday, June 3 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital with her family at her bedside. The family is thankful that she was strong and active until her unexpected passing.

She was born on January 3, 1934, in Jonesboro, to the late Jesse and Opal Curtner. She is survived by her son Terrell (Mary) Carr of Jonesboro, daughter Dena (Dwight) Duckworth of Springdale, sister-in-law Selma (Wayne) Tate of Jonesboro, grandsons, David (Paxton) Carr and Michael Carr, and great-grandsons, Wilder, Kye Bennett and Callahan, nieces Deonne (Wayne) Fortson and Darah (David) Watson and nephews Darwin (Myrna) Raymond and Aaron (Nikki) Tate and her brother Jimmy Curtner.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Carroll, her brother, Larry Curtner, her parents and her sister-in-law, Katherine “Kay” Raymond.

Lois’s mother passed away at the age of 19 when Lois was an infant. Her mother’s last prayer was for her. She was raised by her grandmother, Zora Kee.

Lois graduated from Jonesboro High School where she was a member of the marching band and played the snare drum. On occasion, she would still tap out a familiar cadence. Upon graduation from high school, Lois immediately went to work at the local bank and thoroughly enjoyed it for many years. Everything was manually entered and handwritten. She would often say, “banking sure has changed”!

She enjoyed gardening, painting and classic films and never lost the childhood excitement of Christmas and giving gifts. Her family never doubted her joyful love for them. She mentored them in the foundations of faith, hard work and stewardship.

When Lois was 27 years old, she read Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” She said, “The lights came on. In that instant, I said, in my mind, ‘You loved me so much, how can I help but love you? From now on, everything I have is Yours - my children, my home, our cars, our bank accounts, my husband…I am Yours.’ From that moment on, I was changed. I have never been the same.”

And she was changed. Later in life, there was a 5 year season when young people from her church would bring their friends to her home and ask her to pray over them, and talk through their problems. They were in her home day and night. Those young people are now grown and still wistfully speak of those days and the peace they received. She and Carroll were like parents to many of them.

Over the past 6 years, Lois typed and mailed monthly postcards with encouraging verses and sent them to family and many friends who were unable to get out and about. Her card last month was regarding the beatitudes and stated, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

Services will be held at Emerson Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 23. The family will receive visitors at 1:00 with the funeral service at 2:00. Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery in Bono, Arkansas.

The family would like to thank the NEA Baptist ICU RNs Savannah and Emma and charge nurse Karen, and Dr. Grant Connor. They fought for her and showed unmatched professionalism and compassion.

We cannot know the whole purpose of God, but we can trust Him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons International.