Roy Lee Croom, 93, died peacefully Sunday November 30, 2025, at the Circle of Life Hospice Home in Bentonville, AR.

Roy was born on March 4, 1932, in Smithville, Arkansas, the youngest of ten children of Robert and Lue Etta (Sparks) Croom. After graduating from Lynn High School, he served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his service, he attended Arkansas State University on the GI Bill, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Roy spent his career in education, serving first as a teacher at Annie Camp and later as the principal at Douglas MacArthur Junior High School in Jonesboro from its opening in 1965 until his retirement in 1992.

Roy was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in Jonesboro and later a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee.

Roy loved his 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Coupe and took great joy in showing it at car events. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Elizabeth (Granderson) Croom, and his children Lou Ann (Steve) Wicker, Lana (Curtis) Kirkpatrick, Sharon (Dru) Davison, Rich (Tracey) Carvell Jr, and David (Tiffany) Carvell. He was a proud grandfather to Scott, Stephanie, Clay, Cole, Katie, Ella, Morgan, and Meredith, and great-grandfather to Jude, Eli, Declan, Hattie, Parker, and Daisy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, and his grandson, Courtland Stinson Carvell.

Visitation for Roy will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 12:30 - 1:30pm at Emerson Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow the visitation at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery at 2:00pm.

Pallbearers are Curtis Kirkpatrick, Dru Davison, Scott Wicker, Clay Kirkpatrick, Jude Wicker and Cole Davison.