J.C. Caldwell

  John Carl Caldwell (J.C.), son of William Thomas Caldwell and Ethel Viana (Roy) Caldwell, was born June 8, 1929, in Billmore, Missouri. J.C. departed this life on February 21, 2024, at the age of 94 in his home in Thayer, Missouri, with his family at his side.

   He was united in marriage on April 18, 1954, in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Freda Mae Hurtt. They were happily married for 68 years.

   J.C. purchased the family farm in 1973. He raised cattle and built his forever home. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to teach his children and grandchildren to fish and hunt. 

   J.C. was a member of the Mammoth Spring Church of Christ and loved his church family, serving as a deacon for many years. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

   He is survived by two sons, Steve Caldwell, wife Leisa of Maryville, Tennessee, and Stanley Caldwell, wife Regina of Thayer, Missouri; two daughters, Sherry Smith of Thayer, Missouri, and Shelly Leisenring, husband Dennis of Nixa, Missouri; fifteen grandchildren, Craig Smith, wife Rebekah of Nixa, Missouri, Lauren Rudd, husband Josh of Maryville, Tennessee, Rachel Harris, husband Billy of Thayer, Missouri, Jered Smith, wife Summer of West Plains, Missouri, Adam Caldwell, wife Brittany of Republic, Missouri, C.J. Leisenring, wife Abbie of Harrisburg, Arkansas, Dylan Smith, wife Heather of West Plains, Missouri, Derek Leisenring, wife Tiffany of Valparaiso, Nebraska, Lendl Caldwell, wife Sarah of Knoxville, Tennessee, Shayna Gant, husband Weston of West Plains, Missouri, Ethan Leisenring, wife Sarah of Nixa, Missouri, Leslie McIntosh, husband Weston of Mansfield, Missouri, Travis Smith, wife McKale of West Plains, Missouri, and Cody Caldwell of Thayer, Missouri; twenty-six great-grandchildren with one great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild on the way; three sisters-in-law, Anita Caldwell, Shirley Caldwell and Doris Hurtt.

   He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Freda Caldwell; one son, Doug Caldwell; one grandson, Landon Caldwell; eight brothers, Wesley, Waymon, Roy Lee, Paul, Warren, Darrell, Willard, Bob and one infant sister, Mary Alice Evelyn.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Paragould Children’s Home https://www.childrenshomes.org/

  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Mammoth Church of Christ in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.

Visitation will be Friday February 23, from 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri.

  Interment will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024, in Thayer, Cemetery, Thayer Missouri with services under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.