Roy Carr

Roy Carr, age 94 years, 10 months, and 21 days, went home to paradise on Monday, September 25, 2023 at his home in Arcadia, with his family by his side. He was born November 4, 1928 in Girard, Texas, to R.Z. and Elsie (Gilmore) Carr. On February 11, 1950 he was united in marriage to Zelma (Redding) Carr. They were the parents of three children: Donna and husband, Pat McDowell of Ironton, Missouri, Dudley and wife, Floella Carr of Arcadia, Missouri, and Hayley and husband, Scott Elser of Doe Run, Missouri. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: J.R. (Nicki) McDowell, Corri (Jamie) Wiles, Morgan Carr, Ty Elser, Jordan (Kammi) Elser, Tiffani (Branden) Hampton and Breanna Elser and partner Jared Boyd; twelve great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law; Joyce Redding, Carolyn Redding, and Faye and Haney Poynor, as well as a host of other family and friends. Roy was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-two years, Zelma Carr; two sisters; Syble Anderson, and Joellen Spain, one brother, Jack Carr and a grandson, Kirk McDowell. Roy started his adult life on the family cotton farm outside of Spur, Texas. In 1951 he went to work as a driller for a Seismograph Drilling Company, drilling test holes for oil companies. As the crews moved from town to town and state to state, Texas to Montana, he took his family with him. In 1965 he moved his family to Welden Springs, Missouri to work a year for St. Charles Drilling Company. While there he was having a new drilling rig built to his order, in Midland, Texas. In 1966 he again moved his family, this time to Ironton, Missouri and started Carr Drilling Company – water wells, pump service and sales. And one year later bought a home in Arcadia. Around 1987 he became interested in serving the City of Arcadia and got involved as an Alderman and served for ten or so years. In 1998 he retired from drilling and shortly afterwards ran for Mayor. He was elected and served the City for twenty years, totaling 30 years of service, that he really enjoyed. Roy enjoyed family gatherings and the wonderful holiday meals. He loved growing a garden, always had hot peppers in it, and he loved deer hunting. He became a Christian later in life; first as a member of the Delmar and then Franklin Church of Christ in Fredericktown and in later years the Arcadia Valley Church of Christ. Roy's family will have a private service to lay him to rest with his wife, Zelma, at Arcadia Valley Memorial Park. Pat McDowell will be the officiant. Pallbearers will be: Dudley Carr, J.R. McDowell, Morgan Carr, Scott Elser, Ty Elser, and Jordan Elser. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his name to: Children's Home Inc. 5515 Walcott Road Paragould, AR 72450