Myra Lorraine Preston

Myra Lorraine Preston, 82, of Jonesboro passed from this life into eternal life on Wednesday February 26, 2025, in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Myra was born on September 16, 1942, in Bastrop, Louisiana, the daughter of Chesley D. VanCleave and Valerie Bryant VanCleave.

Myra was raised in West Monroe, Louisiana. Her family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1958; where she met and later married her husband, Louis Preston, on December 16, 1959. Myra was 17 when she and Louis vowed to love each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part. Vows that they stuck to for 61 years until Louis' passing in 2021. Myra described the loss of her husband as losing one-half of herself.

Myra and Louis began their married life in Pine Bluff, where they raised and nurtured their three daughters; and later welcomed their grandchildren. Myra was a faithful member of the Church of Christ for over 60 years; most recently as a member of the Greensboro Road church of Christ in Jonesboro.

Myra and Louis retired to Cherokee Village, Arkansas in 1983, where they became co-owners of The Green Rabbit gift shop in Hardy, which they operated for 18 years. The Prestons’ later moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas in 2017 to be closer to their daughters and family.

Myra especially loved being a homemaker, crocheting, tending to her plants and flowers, all things Christmas, and spending time with her family and friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Dee Etta Salvador. Myra is survived by three daughters, Karen Kalkbrenner; Karla Poe (Mark); Paula Presley (Jeff) all of Jonesboro; sister, Leta McNair of Phenix City, Alabama; brothers, Reginald VanCleave of Phenix City, Alabama; Mark VanCleave (Kris) of Galesburg, Michigan; eight grandchildren, Kent Kalkbrenner, Kyle Kalkbrenner (Wendy), Suzannah Jackson (Kenneth), Bryant Sizemore (Claire), Paul Preston (Chelsea), Lindsey Rose, Carl Harden, Lesley Loftis (Brandon), Chris Poe (Sommer), Matt Poe (Ellery) Laura Poe; and twelve great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held at the Greensboro Road church of Christ in Jonesboro. A Celebration of Life service was at 2:00 on Saturday, March 1, 2025, with Terry Joe Kee and Lee Moses officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Burial followed at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with grandsons, and Kenneth Jackson and Brandon Loftis serving as pallbearers.

For lasting memorials, the family request flowers and memorial contributions be sent to Greensboro Road church of Christ, 2008 Old Greensboro Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72405. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfunealhome.com.