Dorothy Karnes Howar

Dorothy Lynn Maxwell Karnes Howar, 89, of Little Rock, formerly of Blytheville, passed from this life Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at Arkansas Hospice at St. Vincent's Hospital. Born in Blytheville to Robert and Annie Lloyd Maxwell, she was a sister in a family of 8 and often recalled her early days of working on the Gosnell farm with her other siblings. She was a member of Gosnell Baptist Church in Gosnell, Ark. and a member of Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church in Mountain Brook, Ala. and was always active in church as a leader in WMU and in Mountain Brook she served as Elder and head of the woman's group. In 1995 she retired, after 50 years of nursing. From her youthful days in the Nurse Corp, during WWII, to the time she retired as Director of Nursing from the formerly Chickasawba Hospital in Blytheville, she touched the lives of many families, from the joys of childbirth, to the support of those on their final journey. After retirement she volunteered at the Baptist Hospital in Birmingham for 2 years Even until the end, she was proud of her nursing career and wished she could still work. When she encountered anyone going to nursing school she would encourage them and tell them what a great career choice they had made. Dorothy encouraged her daughters to get their education and instilled in them a strong work ethic. She demonstrated this by going back to nursing school at Arkansas State University and graduated with an associate's degree in 1973. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, James T. Karnes in 1993 and John H. Howar in 2012; siblings, Walter Maxwell, Jewel McGhee, James Maxwell, Robert Maxwell, Betty Smith and Mildred Maxwell. Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Gaye Lynn Joyner and husband, Louis of Richmond, Va. and Sandra A. Lubin and husband, Aaron of Little Rock, Ark.; granddaughters, Leigh Joyner Exley and husband, Barry of Richmond, Va. and Laura Joyner Wood and husband, Seth of Randleman, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Savannah Lynn Exley, Lawson Maxwell Exley and Zane Patrick Wood; sister, Clarice Maxwell Boles of Dallas, Texas; sister-in-law, Lavonda Karnes Jones and many nieces, nephews and greats that she loved and cared for. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. in Cobb Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Eddie Clemons officiating. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. until service time The family would like to thank UAMS House Calls, Ark. Hospice and all at Chenal Heights Assisted Living and Memory Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to AR Hospice Foundation or the Alzheimer's Association. Online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com.