Martha Jo Carter, age 65, of Gifford, died Wednesday evening, July 23, 2008, at her home. She was born in Ravana, Arkansas (Miller County) on October 23, 1942 to the late Everett and Josephine Neeley Jones. Reared and educated in Porterville, California, she had been a resident of the Malvern area since 1991. Martha was a homemaker, a Baptist, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was the widow of the late Bobby Leroy "Roy" Carter, to whom she was married on March 20, 1970 in Bakersfield, California. He preceded her in death on December 10, 2004. They were co-owners of Carter's Auto Body Shop in Malvern for 14 years.

She is survived by two sons, Tim Meeks and Richie Carter; by two daughters, Angela Sue Meeks and Janet Carter McCauley, all of Glen Rose; by a sister, Brenda Phelps of Riverside, California; by two brothers, Royce (Gene) Jones of Exeter, California, and Floyd Neeley of Hot Springs; by 16 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Martha was also preceded in death by two sons, William Boyd Meeks and Terry Lee Meeks, and by a sister, Mary McGregor.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2008, at two o'clock in the afternoon in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Sister Kym Miller officiating.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.