Delmus Edward Caraway

SIDNEY – Delmus Edward Caraway, 90, died Saturday, Feb. 20, at the White River Medical Center in Batesville after a stroke.

He lived in Sidney, Ark., less than two miles from where he was born as the son of Eulis and Elsie Caraway.  He returned to Sidney after living in several states in his youth, including Wenatchee, WA, and in California near Yuma, AZ. He attended Sidney Baptist Church.

He served as mayor of Sidney for years and on the Sharp County Quorum Court. He was a farmer, a rancher and a carpenter who could perform any building task from digging the foundation by hand to capping the chimney and nailing on the last shingle. He could acquire any skill that he put his mind to learn. He expected perfection of himself and his family. He was known to win arguments with posts. A post will eventually rot or rust. He never did.

Delmus will be remembered as an unbelievably hard worker, a good provider for his family and a wonderful grandfather, uncle and neighbor. He labored as a migrant farm worker, setting a record in Washington that still stands for the most apples picked in a day.

Delmus is survived by his wife of 71 years, Verbyl Davis Caraway, daughters Connie Martin (Dale) and Vickie Caraway (John Head) and son Steve Caraway (Karla).  He loved his grandchildren, Colby Martin, Brent Martin (Brittney), Davis Caraway (Emma) and Ellie Caraway. He enjoyed being around his great grandchildren Zach Martin (Madison), Ashli Whitmire (Aaron), Caleb Martin, Bella Bunch, Bree Martin and Alarik Martin, and they loved him too. He also survived by a great great granddaughter, Scarlett Rose Whitmire, soon to be born.

He was the last alive of Eulis and Elsie’s four sons.  Jewel Preston Caraway, Gene Ardell Caraway and Myron Caraway passed before him, as did his parents. His sisters Nona (Charles) Lawhon and Donna Jo Caraway are still alive and carrying on the flag for the clan. Other survivors include sisters-in-law, Dorothy Caraway, Betty Caraway and Joyce Hall-Caraway.

The Caraway farm includes land that Delmus’ great grandfather Will Caraway share-cropped. Six generations of his family farmed that property. His nieces and nephews were always welcome at the farm. These included Sherrie Caraway, Russ Caraway, Lisa Wyatt, Brenda Aydelotte Anderson, Shannon Caraway, Sara Vermeire, Bryan Humbrecht, Bobbie Croft Smith, Vona Croft Yancey, Terry Davis, Beverly Davis Fountain, Marilyn Keener and Tricia Hendrickson. His nephew Brice Humbrecht preceded him in death.

Delmus was one of a kind who lived his life on his own terms. Some people have been called a force of nature. He fit that description.

Funeral services will be Monday, March 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sidney Baptist Church with Bro. Shannon Smith officiating.  Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Sidney with arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.

Pallbearers will be Colby Martin, Caleb Martin, Zach Martin, Davis Caraway, Brent Martin and Russ Caraway.

Honorary pallbearers are Scott Bailey, Frankie Bailey, Shannon Caraway, Bryan Humbrecht, Terry Davis and Charles Lawhon.