Carolyn Bell

Carolyn Sue (Pegrum) Bell passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 4, 2017. She was born March 23, 1944 in Conway, AR. Preceded in death by her parents, Rosco Pegrum and Dorothy Evelyn Trawick, also a sister Linda Benetz Akins. She is survived by her only daughter, Erin (Bell) Wilcher (Mark), one grandson and her twin sister Marilyn Sanders.
Our family would like to share the life of Carolyn with all of you here today. On March 23, 1944 a set of twin girls were born to Rosco & Dororthy Pegrum. They named those twins Marilyn Lou and Carolyn Sue. Marilyn arrived first then 30 minutes later Carolyn arrived. The doctor who delivered the twins referred to them as "May" and "Maybe" on this day, I assume he meant May be one or May be two... Marilyn remembered a story of her and Carolyn when they were about 2 years of age, "partners-in-crime" they had started their crime spree by slipping under their own fence and were caught by their mother digging up and eating the carrots out of their patch. If only there was a Kodak camera back then to have captured that moment. Both girls created memories together riding their bicycles, roller skating, reading, etc; until their baby sister Linda arrived 8 years later. I'm positive there must have been a good deal of arguments over who was going to get to hold the baby first or last. As the girls grew older they, just like most siblings, could fight like cats and dogs BUT if someone was picking on the other they protected each other with all they had. Once, a girl named Barbara was picking on Carolyn calling her names and being a bully, Marilyn hauled off and hit the girl for being mean to her sister. You have to wonder if Barbara learned a valuable lesson that day which was not to ever cross one of them Pegrum girls. Carolyn was raised in a good, loving home with parents who worked hard for what they had and sacrificed all they could for all their kids. As the girls grew older and graduated high school they were sent on a trip to Disney as a gift where they were reunited with their childhood family friends the Cullums. There were many memories shared with Judy & Susie and their parents on that trip and one was the first time both girls had ever seen the ocean. This was probably the start of Carolyn's love for the beach.
Carolyn was married briefly and gave birth to her only daughter Ashley Erin Bell. Erin was her pride and joy and she too like her parents worked hard and sacrificed for her daughter. Carolyn had many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored and was an intricate part of each of their lives. She had a love of all babies and they loved her too. She would sit in the floor and play baby dolls, Lego's etc; she just loved being around family and her family loved her being around.
Carolyn's many years of work were fascinating and exciting, also a passion of hers. She had made many life-long friendships along the way that she never forgot. She worked for Wayne Cranford, whom she respected and admired @ Cranford, Johnson & Hunt as a secretary. She was an Administrative assistant for Dale Nicholson whom she also respected and admired @ channel 7 and later and Admin. Assistant for Auditor for the state of Arkansas, Julia Hughes Jones. She loved working at the capitol and all of the interesting people she met along the way...Later in her career she was a journal clerk for Arkansas State the House of Representatives where she stayed until she retired due to her early detection & diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. She was respected throughout her career as a hard worker and valuable employee.
In 2010 she became a resident of Seven Springs Health and Rehab where she resided until 2016. Families of the patients of Seven Springs never realized Carolyn was a resident because she was always there greeting people as they came and went. She was loved by the caregivers of Seven Springs and the many families that had their loved ones at the center. She was especially loved and cared for by the late Debbie Marible and C.N.A's Joyce Ritchie, Jolene Ballard & nurse, Joyce Burmingham.
Carolyn was an avid Razorback fan, she loved the beach and the ocean, the pool, the sun and the many dogs she had over her lifetime, one of those dogs she loved was a Schnauzer named "Shotzy". She was a good friend to many and she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 9, 2017 at the Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street, 758-1170. Visitation will be Monday 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Holland Cemetery.

Special thanks to her loving caregivers: Joyce Birmingham, Joyce Ritchie, Jolene Ballard and to all the staff from both nursing homes. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Arkansas, 201 Markham Center Drive Little Rock, AR 72205, or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517,
Topeka, Kansas 66675.