Gwendolyn Kissinger Carter

On March 25, 2014, surrounded by her children and loving caregivers, Gwendolyn Kissinger Carter slipped away peacefully into eternity. She left behind a rich and fulfilling life and a legacy of kindness and love. She entered this realm in 1919, the daughter of John and Huldah Kissinger of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her hardscrabble upbringing instilled in her a sincere appreciation of the most important things in her life – her uncompromising faith, her beloved family, and her countless friends. Being the daughter of an auto mechanic and garage keeper was not without its advantages. Gwen could be seen driving around Fort Smith as early as age 13, and she even drove a group of church friends to a meeting in Little Rock, quite an adventuresome feat for a young lady in 1935. Miss Kissinger graduated from Fort Smith High School at the tender age of 17, and then attended Draughon's Business College where she met the one love of her life, Walter Carter, whom she married in 1942. Through the ups and downs that life brings to us all, his passing late in 2012 brought an earthly end to over 70 years of loving devotion between a husband and wife. At 7:08 in the evening, on a crisp and clear spring afternoon, they were once again reunited for eternity. They can now resume reading scripture together as they had before, having previously read through the entire Bible together on 10 separate occasions. Gwendolyn was one of those rare individuals who was fortunate enough to understand the purpose for which they were created, and she never deviated from her mission in life. One of the first members of Oak Cliff Baptist Church in 1960, she proved a faithful servant there for over 50 years. She was the embodiment of Jesus' command to love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Through the daily examples of her life, she instilled that sense of spirituality in her children and their children and their children's children. She chronicled her family's growth with 24 diaries that she kept between the years 1977 and 2000, each day faithfully inscribed with the events that marked not only those lives, but of life in general in the latter part of the 20th century. Mom lovingly raised an extended family of three children, seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and several in-laws and outlaws. Left behind to celebrate her life are daughters Jane Ellen Files (Jim) and Jill Ann Cutting (Randy) of Fort Smith, and one son, Walter Lee Carter, Jr. of Little Rock, and grandchildren Beth Jerry (Terry) of Cabot, Jake Files (Michaela) of Fort Smith, Joanna Majka (Brian) of Tulsa, Okla., Jenni Jordan (Adam) of Little Rock, Jessi Forster (Chris) of North Little Rock, Shelby Witherow of Little Rock, and Robert Carter of Fayetteville. She also leaves her dear sister, Imogene Burns, and cousin, Harold Hidy, both of Fort Smith, as well as numerous other family, friends, and church associates. From her diaries was gleaned the name of a diet club she once belonged to, KISMIF (Keep It Simple, Make It Fun), which would also aptly describe her life – she had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh and to make other people laugh. Her last four years in the Memory Care wing of the Willowbrook Assisted Living facility proved to be a stage from which she could perform. Those final years of her life could not have been spent in a better place. We want to thank Morgan, Lisa, and Amber and each member of the caring staff there, as well as the associates of Peachtree Hospice and special thanks to Dr. Margaret Tremwell -- people that she loved and that loved her. We would also like to thank Betty and Nelson Wakefield for their continued devotion, as well as the care and concern of countless others. Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2014 at Oak Cliff Baptist Church under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday, March 27, 2014, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Donations may be made to Oak Cliff Baptist Church, 3701 Gary, Fort Smith, Ark. 72903 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 2408 S. 51st Court, Fort Smith, Ark. 72903. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.