Charlotte Estes Fowler Obituary

Charlotte Kay Estes Fowler of Myron, Arkansas was born to Hayden Orvis Estes and Rexine Haskins Estes on March 4, 1943. Charlotte passed away on July 15, 2025, at the age of 82 years, 4 months, and 12 days.

A fifth generation Arkansan, Charlotte was raised in Ash Flat, Arkansas where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1961. On September 9, 1962, she married Jimmy Lynn Fowler of Myron.

She graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in three and a half years. She found her first teaching opportunity in Couch, Missouri where she lived with a family while Jim completed his degree at ASU. She went on to teach at Cave City and Salem Elementary Schools for several years.

In 1971, Charlotte & Jim moved to Melbourne where they raised their three children: Karen, Frank, and Barry.

As a mother, Charlotte was determined to provide her children with every single life opportunity that she possibly could. On her teacher’s salary, she budgeted and sacrificed so they would be set up for success. She took on extra educator jobs during the summer months to ensure they were able to participate in every extracurricular activity that caught their eye. She was always active behind the scenes and supported and followed them wherever in the country the competition led.

Charlotte was a member of the Church of Christ and always made sure that she and her kids were in church every Sunday morning, even if they had been showing horses until midnight on Saturday.

After sending her kids off to college, Charlotte wrapped up her 30-year teaching career by completing her 23rd year at Melbourne Elementary. She built her retirement home on the Strawberry River, where she began her beloved career as “Mamaws”. She picked up where she left off with her kids and became the official taxi for her grandsons, travelling back and forth to Melbourne on a daily basis.

In addition to being a selfless caregiver to her family and husband of 61 years, she loved her pets; tending to every stray cat, lost dog, or newborn calf around the farm.

Charlotte inherited and passed on a fun sense of humor. She enjoyed getting together with her lifelong best friends Dolly and Clella and laughing about old times.

She was a proud Ash Flat Eagle and spent her last years organizing and planning the bi-annual Ash Flat School Reunion that her dad began over 50 years ago.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents Hayden and Rexine, and her husband Jim.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Fowler and son-in-law William Demmons, son Frank Fowler, son Barry Fowler; grandsons Wyatt Fowler and Cash Fowler; brother Tommy Estes; sister Carolyn Estes; niece Julie Estes Boles, and niece Stephanie Stewart.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday July 19, 2025, with a visitation starting at 10:30 A.M. at Melbourne Church of Christ in Melbourne, Arkansas with Bro. John Schuhknecht officiating. There will also be a Visitation Friday July 18, 2025, from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas. Burial will be in the Godwin Cemetery in Myron, Arkansas. Pallbearers are Wyatt Fowler and Cash Fowler. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Ash Flat Class of 1961. Memorials may be made to the Children's Home of Paragould, Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas.