CAROL ANNE RABORN HARPER,

85, passed away on April 1, 2024. She was born in New Orleans, La., on February 6, 1939. She was the daughter of the late George Raborn, Jr. and Cecile Ghisalberti Raborn and grew up in New Orleans.

She had one brother who predeceased her in 2020, George Raborn, who was very special to her.

Carol was 17 years old when she married Howard Harper, also of New Orleans. They lived in New Orleans, Blytheville, Ark., Huntsville, Ala., and ended up in North Little Rock, Ark., where Howard started his own telephone systems business, Harper Systems. She was married to Howard from 1956 to 1985.

She is survived by two children, Mark Howard Harper (Jewel) and Helen Harper Thigpen (Rodney); three grandchildren, Marie Alicia Mashburn, Bradford Hamilton Harper, and Alexandra Rose Thigpen; and one great-grandchild, Kalyn Grace Mashburn.

Carol was an avid lifelong reader and had a keen interest in politics and was a passionate supporter of the New Orleans Saints. She worked at Harper Systems, Waldenbooks, and for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. She loved cats and spent time a lot of time caring for strays as well as her own pets.

Carol chose to donate her body to science. A service will be scheduled sometime in May to honor and remember her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the two charities she personally supported each year: the Arkansas Food Bank and the Arkansas branch of FURR (Feline Rescue and Rehome) at teamfurr.org.

Guestbook can be signed online at www.smithfamilycares.com.