Jo Ellen Aylor Carmack

Jo Ellen Aylor Carmack was born to Roy and Leslie Aylor on August 12, 1928. She lived a love-rich and family-filled 95 years before passing on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

She married Claborn (Brandy) Carmack on February 28, 1945. They were married for 43 years and raised 7 beautiful children before his passing. She carried on being Jo Jo/ Mama Joe/ Aunt Jo to their children, 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and over 400 "babysitting kids". She rocked and "toodle dumped" 4 generations of babies and their babies.

"That's my Jo Jo." and "No! That's my Jo Jo!" Was a banter often heard between all the family (blood and "babysat") as they vied for their hierarchy in her affection. She loved well and was well loved!

Jo Jo was famous for her love of family and babies, vegetable soup, and scrambled eggs. One granddaughter was noted to have said: "What did THEY do to deserve Jo Jo eggs?" because they were so good that they must surely be reserved for special rewards. They weren't, she'd whip them up any time, any day for anyone who needed a hot meal. She loved to visit and to feed family and friends. She also loved jigsaw and crossword puzzles and she was good at solving them. She enjoyed sewing and flower gardening, mountains, and beaches.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Roy Aylor and Lessie Fryar Reed, step-father Jesse Reed; Her loving husband: Claborn; four siblings: Dorothy (Monroe), Joyce, Bobby, and Betty; brother-in-law: Henry Richard; three nephews: James, Steven, Carey; Her precious son: Stanley and his infant sons Stanley Claborn and Bradley Scott.

Surviving children and spouses: Carol (Travis) Stapp, Mary (Jim) Cox, (Ladene) Carmack, (James Bryant), David (Alice) Carmack, Bruce (Debbie), Kevin (Sharon) Carmack and Keith (Patty) Carmack.

She loved the Lord, read her Bible, and sang Hymns. She even played them on the harmonica, occasionally. Even though she was married in a Methodist church, she declared Baptist as her denomination of choice. She considered Mt. Olive Baptist church at Hog Jaw as her "Home church". Her funeral services will be held there on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM. Her final resting place will be in the family plot, at Mt. Olive Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Travis "Dart" Stapp, Calan Carmack, Mark Carmack, Jordan Carmack, Claborn Carmack, Jacob Hill and Honorary Pallbearer Jeremy Carmack.

Jo Ellen was a beautiful, wonderful person. She was a mother figure to the entire community. She was so loved and will be so missed by all she touched.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel, 209 North 3rd Street, Glenwood, AR 71943.