Vera Carr (82) of Charleston

Vera Carr, 82, of Charleston, Illinois passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham to be home with God in heaven.

A private family service was held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup, Illinois. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Hazel Dell Cemetery.

Vera was born on March 12, 1941, at the family home in rural Casey the daughter of Howard and Edema (Darling) Smith. Vera married Thomas Henry Carr on February 18, 1959.

Survivors include her loving husband Henry, her children Troy (Melissa) Carr, Wendy (Hardy) Eldridge, Cindy (Chuck) Pedigo, Sanish (Karla) Carr, Kathy (Matt) Meeker, 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and sister Hannah (Mike) Keller.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jim Smith, Tony Smith, Howard Smith, sister Thelma Joyce Smith, granddaughters McKenzie Lynn Carr and Allison Meeker.

Vera enjoyed spending time with her family and spending time in her sewing room creating quilts for every member of the family. To say she was an avid quilter would be an understatement. Vera went for many years to the quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky with her sister Hannah and friends and never passed up the opportunity to go into a fabric store to see what they had. Her vast collection of fabric and sewing machines were the tools she used to create all of the quilts (not blankets), throws, and wall hangings that her family now cherish more than ever. Vera enjoyed quilting so much that she even opened The Village Quilt in Sandwich, Illinois. She was also known to crochet Afghans for her family and always picked the softest yarn. Vera worked at a few places over the years but what she enjoyed the most was being a homemaker, spending time in her sewing room and the 21 years she volunteered at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital. Vera and Henry enjoyed watching the old westerns on the television and seeing how many different birds were flying around their yard. For many years they also enjoyed attending the Jack Oak Church of God at Greenup for worship and fellowship.

In lieu of flowers any memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, 3800 Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Online condolences can be expressed by clicking here.