Carole Anne Curtis

Carole Anne Curtis of Greenbrier, Arkansas, passed away on August 19, 2025. She was born on July 12, 1954, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Harold Wesley Ragsdale and Raymonette Steward Ragsdale.

Carole was known for her kindness, creativity, and love of learning. She was an avid reader, writer, and editor. Together with her husband, Mike Curtis, she co-founded Shanda Fantasy Arts, an independent publishing house that gave many authors and artists the opportunity to share their work. She was the creator and writer of the adventure comic series Katmandu and helped shape Shanda Fantasy Arts legacy through her work as an editor and publisher.

Beyond her publishing career, Carole was an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where she enjoyed sewing medieval and Italian Renaissance clothing, cooking, and preparing feasts for local banquets. Her many other creative outlets included jewelry making, as well as collecting and restoring antique dolls.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, James Michael Curtis; her son, Justin Ragsdale; daughter-in-law, Julia Ragsdale; grandchildren, Alyssa Ragsdale Richardson, Ashlyn Ragsdale, and Zachary Ragsdale; great-grandchildren, Halle Richardson and Brandt Richardson; and her sisters, Lisa Ragsdale, Kathleen Ragsdale, and Elizabeth Sutton, along with many nieces, nephews, and her beloved writing community. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Wesley Ragsdale; her mother, Raymonette Steward Aeberli; her stepfather, Edwin Aeberli; her brother, David Ragsdale; her maternal grandparents, Charlie and Opal Larkins Steward; and her paternal grandparents, Elbert Ragsdale and Hazel Ragsdale Tanner.

Carole’s life was defined by creativity, compassion, a deep love for her family, and the lasting connections she built within her communities.