Willie L. Carnes

Willie Lee (Bill) Carnes passed away on April 12, 2012, at the Fayetteville Veterans Home. He was born in Garfield, Ark., to John Q. and Caulie Harris Carnes on Feb. 14, 1919. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Maxine Craytor Carnes, son, Larry L. Carnes, and two infant children, Virginia and Billie Dale. He is also proceeded in death by his brothers, Carl, Cloe, J.C. and Ray Dean; sisters, Gladys Newman, Ina Dent, and infant siblings Bennie and Grace. He is survived by son, David and wife Linda Carnes of Springdale, Rosemary Mason and husband Tim of Edina, Minn.; sisters, Ona Thrasher, Margaret Sutherland, Patsy Ellis, Rachel Banks and brothers, John, Lonnie and Melvin; grandchildren, Gretchen Watt, Laura Dietrich, Jeramy Carnes, Jeff Carnes, Jennifer Carnes, Lauren Matteo and 11 great-grandchildren. Bill met his wife, Maxine, in February 1939 at Devil's Den State Park while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corp. They were married on Sept. 11, 1939, in Fayetteville, Ark. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II as a combat engineer on the front lines clearing the roads and building bridges for our troops to get to the battlefront. He suffered from frostbite due to the harsh winter in the European Theatre. The family is proud of his service to our country. After the war he returned home to Cleveland, Okla., and worked for his brother in the oil fields. In the fall of 1950 they returned to Northwest Arkansas where he spent most of his adult career as a long-haul truck driver with Jones Truck Lines where he retired after many years. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of the Fayetteville Veterans Home for their generous care of Bill and the many veterans in their charge. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15, 2012, at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home in Springdale. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 16 at the funeral home with Pastor Charlie Foster officiating, interment will follow at Bluff Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Willie L. Carnes to: Fayetteville Veterans Home, P.O. Box 9898 Fayetteville, AR 72703. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.