MACK CARAWAN

Aug. 23, 1936 – Aug. 10, 2014

 

On August 10, 2014  Mack Carawan heard the words he had longed to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of thy Lord.”
Born on August 23, 1936, to the late Harvey Murl and Sarah Jane Vaughn Carawan, Mack grew up hunting and fishing on Rose Bay.  He graduated from Swan Quarter High School in 1955.  Upon serving his country as a medic for the US Army in Korea, he returned to marry the love of his life, the former Sandra Lou Swindell, who preceded him in death on March 23, 2014. Through 56 years of marriage, they were blessed with four children – Diana C. Williams, and husband Joey Ben of Fairfield, Joan C. Maxwell, and husband Owen of Edenton, Debbie C. Daughtry, and husband Wilson of Engelhard; a son, Willie Mack Carawan, Jr. of Fairfield; four grandchildren, Connie Jo Gibbs, and husband Christian of Fairfield, Michael Allen Gibbs, and wife Lesley of Wendell, Jason Williams, and wife Susan of Fairfield, and Miranda Daughtry of Engelhard; and seven great-grandchildren; Grant and Sara Catherine Gibbs, Scarlette, Holden, and Lilah Gray Williams, and Hampton and Carter Gibbs.  Also surviving are his brother, Billy Gene Carawan of Cloud Croft, New Mexico, as well as two brothers-in-law; Bobby Swindell, and wife Donna of Richlands, and Clifford M. Swindell, and wife Judy of Fairfield, and sister-in-law, Virginia H. Carawan, also of Fairfield. He is also survived by numerous precious nieces and nephews.
After a distinguished 30-year career with the NC Division of Forestry, Mack retired as Hyde County Forest Ranger.  He also served as a Mason, holding many offices and coaching countless apprentices as they joined the order.  Mack was recently honored for his 50 years of service as a Master Mason.
It was his love of his Lord and his family that defined him.  He was a member of Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, and today he stands in glory with his precious loved ones who have gone on before him, including his parents and siblings; Johnny Ballance Maggie B. Hodges and Murl Carawan.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Wednesday at Pleasant Grove Church of Christ with Steven Mills and Bill Griffin officiating.  Interment will follow at Fairfield Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bryan Funeral Service in Swan Quarter, and all other times at the home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pleasant Grove Youth Group ℅ Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, 33520 US Hwy 264, Engelhard, NC  27824 and the Fellowship Hall Building Fund ℅ Fairfield Christian Church, PO Box 7, Fairfield, NC  27826.

The family would like to thank caregivers Jean Merrick and Denise Gibbs for the many acts of kindness they showed to their father.