Obituaries

Carroll Franklin Gott

Photo of Carroll Franklin Gott
Carroll Franklin Gott was born March 3, 1923, to Frank and LaVinea Turley Gott and passed to the ages Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Carroll was the second of five children and lost one sibling in infancy. His older sister, Sina, passed before him and he is survived by his sister, Azalea Cooper, and his brother, William Gott. Carroll is also survived by two of his five children, Carola Clayton and Tim (Laura) Gott. His wife of 54 years, Ann; and three of his children: Ted, Phillip and Terry, preceded him in his passing. Carroll also has seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and an eighth great-grandchild expected in March. He has an incredible number of friends and relatives. In his later years, Carroll enjoyed the close friendship of Geneva Phillips. Carroll was a shining example of the greatest generation this country has ever known. A generation that built great things, cured diseases, created laws for moral reasons and fought wars to end tyranny. A generation that saw men travel to the moon and back and he saw it all. Carroll was born during the roaring 20s, grew up during the Great Depression, became a man on the battlefields of Europe, and returning home became a husband and father during the baby boom. Carroll was a U.S. Army veteran of W.W. II. He always prided himself in his service with the 101st Airborne Division. Among his decorations, Carroll was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the third highest award for gallantry, for action in Holland. He was encircled by the German enemy at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Carroll was a loving father. His youngest son Tim related the greatest advice received from his father followed an argument involving Tim and his mother Ann. Carroll directed Tim to the back porch and in confidentiality, imparted this advice for the future, "Tell her what she wants to hear; do what you want to do...and don't get caught!" This rule to live by could explain why Carroll was always smiling and always seemed to do what he wanted to do. Carroll was a 70+ year member of First Baptist Church where he was active for many years in the church Care Center. He was a 60-year member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and a1942 graduate of Jonesboro High School where he was a member of the '42 State Championship basketball team. A fellow basketball teammate, Gene Sellers, was the first person killed in action during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. Carroll was interviewed in 2014 regarding his first-person knowledge of the D-Day invasion and the interview is now a voice-over documentary at the Normandy Invasion Museum in France. Following retirement, Carroll became an avid traveler. He thoroughly enjoyed trips abroad and domestically which were organized and directed by his dear friends Lee Ann Clay and Elaine Hallum at International Tours. His interests were many and wants few. He liked to garden, fish, hunt, woodworking and very few things did not interest him. He loved life and it loved him. Carroll will be missed by many. A quote by the great playwright William Shakespeare describes Carroll well, "Take him for he is a man and all in all I will not meet his like again." Visitation will be held Saturday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. at Emerson Funeral Home. In a few days following, Carroll will be privately laid to rest beside Ann in Philadelphia Cemetery with Rev. Bruce Venable officiating. For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to First Baptist Church Care Center, 701 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, Ark. 72401. Online registry at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.

Published November 27, 2015

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