Clara Bitely Obituary
She was born February 4, 1923, in Pulaski County, daughter of Emery Alvin Byerly and Minnie Ora Stone Byerly McDade.
Mrs. Bitely was reared and received her early education in Linwood, Arkansas, graduating from Linwood High School. She earned her LPN license from Baptist Hospital before serving as a nurse cadet during World War II. Mrs. Bitely eventually earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee.
She worked as a nurse for Dr. Petty in Star City before working at the Jefferson County Health Department. After earning her master's in counseling from the University of Central Arkansas, she worked as a nursing administrator at a VA Hospital in Texas.
Mrs. Bitely was a devoted Christian and long-time member of Linwood Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She also was an active participant in Bible Study at Watson Chapel Baptist Church when able and served as a missionary in Guatemala as a nurse. She was an active member of the local Master Gardener's club, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a board member of the Linwood Moscow Volunteer Fire Department.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George Hamilton "Hammie" Bitely, whom she married in 1960 and passed in 1989; son, Tommy Carman; daughter, Mary Ann Brewer; four sisters, Octavia Nelson, Warnia Smith, Aveline Mason and Henry Lee Smith; and brother, George Byerly.
Survivors include her son, Bruce Carman (Teresa) of Grady; brother, Elmer Byerly of Hector; three grandchildren, Kristal Guthrie (Bobby), Sara Keeter (Justin) and Allison Isham (Jonathan); and four great-grandchildren, Fallyn Bullard, Jackson Isham, Jefferson Keeter and Grayson Isham; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 11, 2025, at Linwood Baptist Church in Tamo with Brother Randy Rushing and Brother Elmer Byerly officiating. Interment will follow in Nicholson Cemetery by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. Visitation will be Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until service time at Linwood Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Linwood Baptist Church, P.O. Box 8, Moscow, AR 71659.
Online register: www.RobinsonFuller.com
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3 Entries
Tamara Falls
April 11, 2025
My condolences to the family. My name is Tamara Falls and I had the pleasure of assisting and caring for Ms. Bitely for the past five years at The Blossoms of White Hall nursing home. She was always smiling and ready to strike up a conversation. She didn't require much and tried her best to do as much as she could on her own. I always looked forward to seeing her and I'm going to miss having her there whenever I'm at work. Rest in peace Ms. Bitely, I'll see you again on the other side.
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Linda Power
April 11, 2025
Deepest condolences.
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