Carol Kathleen Lipsmeyer dies

Published: November 14, 2019

By Beth Lipsmeyer Dunn

Carol Kathleen Lipsmeyer, 74 and long-time resident of Little Rock, died Oct. 24 in Amherst, Massachusetts after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born on October 28, 1944, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to John L. Lipsmeyer and Elizabeth W. Lipsmeyer.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sr. Norma Lipsmeyer. She is survived by her daughter, Katie (Chris), and granddaughter, Clover; sister, Beth (Ted); brothers, Kenny (Melissa) and David (Carol); nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Joe), Jason (Crystal), Joy (Patrick), Elizabeth (Todd), Justin (Renae), Kelly (Matt), Rebecca, Jeff (Liz), Chad (Brittany), Colleen and Kaylie (Carter); goddaughter, Morgan; and many grandnieces and nephews.

Carol was a graduate of Our Lady of the Holy Souls School, Mount St. Mary Academy, and St. Vincent’s Nursing School. Early in her nursing career, she scrubbed in on one of the first heart transplants. She then pursued a career in anesthesia and was one of the first women nurse anesthetists in Arkansas. With the majority of her tenure at Baptist Health, Carol was a pioneer and powerhouse in her field. She made it a point to stay with her patients after every case so they could wake up to a smile. She finished her career having worked on 3,000 heart cases, in addition to countless other surgeries.

Carol had a notable service-oriented heart. At her home parish, Christ the King Catholic Church, she sat on the parish council, lifted her strong alto voice in the choir for 30 years, organized the parish’s group of Our House Shelter volunteers, cooked for grieving families through Martha’s Meals, and lent her medical talents to several Honduras mission trips.

Carol was a tried and true Razorback fan, was an expert bridge player, treasured her vacations to Kauai, and had the loudest whistle you’ve ever heard. She was known for talking to all the people standing in the checkout line with her, and was always ready to listen with a nonjudgmental, sympathetic ear to those in need, whether stranger or friend.

Carol was dedicated to her family and was happiest when everyone was together. She had an extraordinary bond with her daughter, Katie, who she devotedly and tenderly raised by herself. Carol was able to extend that bond with the arrival of her precious granddaughter, Clover, with whom she shares her initials.

In spite of her disease, Carol was still able to connect with her family until her last living day. She truly was a remarkable woman who lived fully, loved deeply, and enjoyed life immensely.

A vigil service was held Nov. 8. The funeral Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church was Nov. 9 followed by a celebration lunch in the Family Life Center. A private interment will occur at a later time.

Carol wholeheartedly supported Katie’s endeavors. In lieu of flowers, her family asks for memorial contributions to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County at chd.org/bbbs in Amherst, MA, where Katie works to ignite the power and promise of youth.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Carol’s online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.