Steve Carpenter

1954 - 2025

BATESVILLE - Steve Carpenter, 70, of Batesville, passed away Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.

He was born Jan. 13, 1954, in Jonesboro, to Malcolm Price Carpenter and Carmen Luella Scholze Carpenter.

Steve Carpenter was raised on a farm in Waldenburg. He is a third generation farmer who spent the early part of his life managing his parent's rice and soybean farm. Early in his career he teamed up with local farmers and fabricators where he began developing specialized farming implements and experimenting with no-till farming. His creativity and success was rewarded with the Arkansas farm family of the year award. He then expanded into a fish farm that specialized in raising catfish, tilapia, and carp. He pioneered oxygenated transport to live markets in Toronto, Houston, and New York City.

After the turn of the century, he built Josie's steakhouse in Waldenburg. It was so successful, that he attempted to franchise the restaurant and expanded to Batesville. Unfortunately, he was met with much resistance, and his dreams of a franchise were halted. Despite the financial troubles that caused him to lose control of his farm, local political assault that compromised bank loans, fire that destroyed his restaurant, a severe burn and crush injury when he was trapped under his truck, and the traumatic loss of his son and daughter-in-law, he never stopped fighting for his family.

Steve rebuilt his restaurant by hand, made the necessary financial sacrifices to persevere, and never stopped working to pay the bills. He was a jack of all trades, possessing the knowledge and entrepreneurial brilliance of billionaires. Yet, rather than being rich in coin, he was rich in love and served many around him who were less fortunate than himself. He always had more projects going on than any one person could complete. He had an eye for a deal, and the trigger finger of an old west gunman. He had no fear of failure and pitied the fools who were afraid to take risks. He lived every moment as if it was his last and would no doubt have survived if he was the one in charge of his own rescue.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Beth Richardson Carpenter of the home; two sons, Dylan Carpenter (Destiny) of Batesville and Dayton Carpenter (Brittany) of Rosie; sister, Carolyn Harper (Pat) of Helena; seven grandchildren, Josie Krentz (John Samuel), Kieffer Carpenter, Price Carpenter, Dash Carpenter, Cruz Carpenter, Jax Carpenter, and Charley Carpenter; niece, Kimberly Dockins; nephew, Thomas Harper; and many many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Dustin Carpenter; and daughter-in-law, Sarah Kieffer Carpenter.

Pallbearers are Dylan Carpenter, Dayton Carpenter, Price Carpenter, Jax Carpenter, Kieffer Carpenter, Charley Mack Richardson and Shawn Drake.

Honorary pallbearers are Randy Weever, Greg Griffin, Andrew Pinkston, Dale Hall, Jay Reiman, and Clemon Wolf.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Maple Springs Baptist Church with Curt Howard officiating. Other speakers will include; Bryan Tuggle, Phil Pulley, Mitch Bell and Jason Barber.

Committal services will begin at 1 p.m. at Waldenburg Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the church.