Carrie Blackwell

BENTON, Mo. -- Carrie Lorena Blackwell, 92, of Benton died Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, in Benton.

She was born Nov. 4, 1919, on Black Island in Pemiscot County, daughter of Lacy Jackson and Pearl Mae Morton Bush. She and Guy Martin Blackwell were married Dec. 24, 1939.

Blackwell was a nurse and also taught grades one through eight at Black Island School. She was a founding member of Glass Memorial Baptist Church east of Hayti, Mo., and a member of Unity Baptist Church at Benton.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed bird watching, gardening, spending time with family -- especially grandchildren -- and loved her cats. She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include three daughters, Trena Novak of Benton, Sherry Baldwin of Corona, Calif., Terry (Jimmy) Mirgeaux of Kelso, Mo.; two grandchildren, Kate Mirgeaux and Jason Francis; five great-grandchildren, Michael, Grayson, Mady, Ben and Emerson Francis; a sister, Hattie Parker of Springfield, Mo.; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a sister, Mary Francis Huey; and a brother, Lacy Junior Bush.

The funeral was Monday at Glass Memorial Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dennis Lowe officiating. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery at Hayti.

John W. German Funeral Home in Hayti was in charge of arrangements.