Helen Sweet

Helen Laverne Sweet, age 86 of Arkadelphia, passed away peacefully Saturday July 7, 2018 in North Little Rock, AR at Lakewood Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on September 1, 1931 in the Hearn Community to William Barnard and Sarah Elizabeth Wright Carter. She married Arthur Lee Sweet on November 25, 1949 in Arkadelphia. Beginning their life as dairy farmers there, they started a family with the birth of a daughter, Linda Kay. They soon moved to continue as dairy farmers near Colombia, MO working for the University of Missouri at Foremost Dairy Research Center. Lee and Laverne continued to raise their daughter for the next decade when their second daughter was born, Lea Ann. The family eventually moved back to Arkadelphia where they raised Lea Ann and happily lived together for many years while working in various places and eventually retiring from John Deere. During this time her and Lee developed a love of running and were founding members of the Arkadelphia Runners Club. She ran the Pikes Peak Marathon and won the Arkansas Road Runners 55-59 age group championship in the late 80's. She was a champion in life as she is also a champion in death with Victory through Christ. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. She served the Lord her entire life.
Laverne is preceded in death by her parents, William Barnard and Sarah Elizabeth Carter, her husband of 60 years, Arthur Lee Sweet, her brothers, Milton Lee Carter (Betty Jane, deceased) of Arkadelphia, AR, Shelton Wright Carter (Betty Joyce, deceased) of Arkadelphia, AR and her brother in law Wilson Tucker. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Katherine Tucker of Arkadelphia, AR and Joyce Lynn Gallant (JC) of Arkadelphia, AR. She is also survived by her daughters, Linda Kay McIntyre of North Little Rock, AR and Lea Ann Sweet-Jacobs (Joey) of El Paso, TX. Laverne was blessed with several grandchildren: Kelly Leguin (Lance) of Arkadelphia, AR, Dr. Lydia Hunjan (Dr. Harjot) of Little Rock, AR, Marlana Gruby (Lyle) of Memphis, TN, Kathryn Northcutt (Jared) of North Little Rock, AR, John McIntyre (Taylor) of Little Rock, AR, Carter, Sorrel, and Presley Jacobs of El Paso, TX. She was also blessed with great grandchildren: Kasey Smith, Kristine Leguin, and Windsor Hunjan. Services will be held 2 pm on
Saturday July 14, 2018 in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charlie Williams officiating. Visitation will be 12:30-1:30 pm that day at the funeral home. She will rest eternally at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Arkadelphia, AR. Pallbearers will be Harris Fann, Lyle Gruby, Carter Jacobs, Joey Jacobs, John McIntyre, and Jared Northcutt. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Harjot Hunjan, Presley Jacobs, and Lance Leguin. The family wishes to thank her caregivers at Twin Rivers who extended kindness and treated her with dignity during her time there.