Carolyn Pankey

Carolyn Van Pankey, 88, of Flippin, Arkansas peacefully passed to her heavenly home surrounded by a host of her loving family on September 11, 2024. She was born March 31, 1936 in El Paso, Texas, to William Van Gilbert and Edna Laura Gilbert. She was raised in Springdale, Arkansas where she graduated from Springdale High School in 1954. This is where she met her future husband, Reland Harp. She also attended the University of Arkansas and paid for college by helping raise chickens on her family’s farm. After Reland returned from the Army, they were married December 27th, 1957. She worked for two years as a bookkeeper for Harps Grocery Stores while her husband Reland finished college. In 1959, Reland and Carolyn welcomed their first of four boys, Mike. Phillip, Randall, and Greg would soon follow. Her strong faith in the Lord guided her during her life. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas. More recently, she was a faithful serving member at Twin Lakes Baptist in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 

She was a homemaker and devoted her life to serving her Lord and her family. Carolyn had many talents. She enjoyed painting, crocheting, sewing, gardening, traveling, and of course, the Arkansas Razorbacks. Carolyn also enjoyed big game hunting with Reland and other family in Colorado and Wyoming. She most enjoyed cooking and loved preparing meals for family, gatherings, and church potlucks. If you were a friend dropping by there would always be something good to eat. Nanny, as she was known by so many, loved sewing clothes for her boys, then her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She also loved teaching a lot of them to cook, including all four sons. She even published her own cookbook so that her recipes would continue to be enjoyed for many years to come. 

After Reland’s untimely death in 1986, Carolyn met and later married Ray Pankey in 1992. They enjoyed many years of adventure and travel until Ray’s health began to decline. She cared for him diligently until his passing in 2021. For many years, Carolyn cheerfully volunteered for the Springdale Memorial Hospital auxiliary and Baxter Regional Hospital. She was loved by all who had the pleasure to know her. 

A loving daughter, sister, wife, Mom, and Nanny, she is survived by her four sons, Mike (Jill), Phillip (Loretta), Randall (Aubrey), and Greg; daughter-in-law, Leslie Harp; 17 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. She is also survived by her brother, Jack (JoAnn) Gilbert and a host of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bill Gilbert; husbands, Reland Harp and Ray Pankey; a grandson Josh Harp, and great-granddaughter, Asia Mangham. 

We are eternally grateful and thankful for the many caregivers that diligently cared for Nanny and Ray in their final years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Twin Lakes Baptist Church and Hospice of the Ozarks.

Visitation will be Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 10:30 am until service time, at Twin Lakes Baptist Church. A Funeral Service for Carolyn will be 11:30 am, Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Twin Lakes Baptist Church, with Dr. Sam Bailey officiating. Graveside Services will follow at 4:00 pm, in the Friendship Cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas, with T.J. Parks, Tyler Harp, Tad Harp, Sean Harp, Thomas Pittman, and Hunter Harp as pallbearers. Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.