Carrie McMahan Sealy

Carrie McMahan Sealy passed away in Malvern, AR on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 at the age of 94. She was born April 27, 1930 in Friendship, AR to Clarence and Elmira McMahan. She was one of eight children. She grew up in the Friendship and Midway, AR area and married Harold Sealy in 1953. They were married 57 years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; her daughter Sheila Sealy; sisters Imogene Cruse, Melva Burris, Vie Davis, Inez Fitzhugh, and brother Lyndal McMahan. 

She is survived by daughters Joyce Chaffin (David), Debbie Russell (David) and son Wayne Sealy. Carrie is also survived by grandsons Lynn Chaffin (Lana), Jared Russell (Leslie) and Jordan Russell (Tessa), as well as granddaughter Charlie Ann Sealy. Her great grandsons are Caleb Chaffin (Bri), Clift Chaffin (Ashlyn), Jason Russell and Harrison Russell. Great granddaughters are Anna Russell, Leah Russell and Emmersyn Russell. She was also blessed with one great, great grandson, Andrew Owens. In addition, she is survived by sisters Eva Lou Fite and Barbara Davis and by sister-in-laws Dorothy Sealy and Laverne Sealy as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Carrie loved to sew and was talented in making wooden decorations and game boards. She was an excellent cook and her family appreciated that talent. She enjoyed fishing, playing card games and board games. She loved to laugh and her children remember much laughter when with her. She also enjoyed puzzle books and reading.

She loved her kids and really enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She would drive them around Friendship and the Ouachita River bottoms, stopping to skip rocks in the river and go fishing. Carrie lived at their home in Friendship until after Harold died and a number of years ago she moved to the Crossing, an assisted-living facility in Malvern. She became friends with her nurses Debbie Carson and Gina Fronte as well as many others there. 

Carrie attended Friendship High School and was a member of Trinity Temple Assembly of God church in Arkadelphia. She worked at the Feather-lite Screen Door factory in Hot Springs for more than 20 years before retiring. She had a full life and a happy one.

A celebration of Carrie’s life will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6 at the Ruggle-Wilcox Chapel in Arkadelphia. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. with the service starting at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Friendship. Pallbearers will be Lynn, Caleb and Clift Chaffin, Jared and Jordan Russell and Doye DelaCruz.

Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Home-Arkadelphia/Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923, www.smithfamilycares.com.