Tacey Lee Cravens

Tacey Lee Cravens, age 82, of Jonesboro, left this earth for her heavenly home on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Tacey was born in Newport and lived most of her adult life in Jonesboro. She attended Arkansas State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1970, Master of Science in Education degree in 1974, and later earned the Reading Specialist degree. She was a retired teacher from Jonesboro Public Schools and Crowley's Ridge Academy. Her total career spanned a period of forty-six years. During her teaching career, Tacey was selected as Jonesboro Teacher of the Year and was also  a Golden Apple Award recipient recognized by the Jonesboro Rotary Club. In 2015 she was selected as Teacher of the Year at Crowley's Ridge Academy.

Faith and family were her life. She also loved cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Teaching was her passion and she had a long career in education, touching many lives over the years. Kindness, a gentle spirit, humility, and grace earned her the respect of those close to her.

Tacey married John Stuart Cravens, Sr. on July 13, 1958 in Newport and they had a wonderful life together for forty-nine years. She was a faithful member of Southwest Church of Christ where she spent many years teaching Bible classes. In the last years of her life she attended Valley View Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Arkansas Education Association and NU Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. Tacey held many offices in the organizations as well as serving in leadership roles in the Jonesboro Public School System. She taught the last seven years of her career at CRA in Paragould.

Tacey was preceded in death by her husband, John Stuart Cravens, Sr., her parents, Charley and Edith Davis; five brothers: David, Cliff, Jimmy, Don and Leslie Davis, and two sisters: Polly Humphrey and Connie Ivy.

She is survived by two sons, Johnny (Kathy) Cravens and Victor (Rhonda) Cravens of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, Katey Cravens of Fayetteville, Brett Cravens (Sarah Kaye) of Huntsville, AL, Kelsey Brock (Grant) of Fayetteville, Scott Cravens (Brianne) of Norman, OK; and five great-grandchildren: Caroline Brock, Mila Brock, Casper Eaton, Kenna Cravens and Junie Cravens. She is also survived by a sister, Shirley Byrd (Roy) of Newport; two sisters-in-law: Gen Davis of Springfield, MO and Sharon Davis of Newport, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Jimmy Adcox and Spencer Furby officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers include Scott Cravens, Brooks Cravens, Jeff Stidman, Sean Davis, Wes Eaton,  and Wayne Freer.   Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Friday, prior to the funeral service.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Crowley's Ridge Academy, 606 Academy Dr., Paragould, AR 72450; or Paragould Children's Home, 5515 Old Walcott Rd., Paragould, AR 72450.