Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Cora Garrett Obituary
Cora Lee Garrett, 78, of Gentry, Arkansas passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at her home.
She was born May 29, 1946 to Albert Ward and Alice Lighthill Ward in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She was known for her warm heart, adventurous spirit, and an unwavering love for the world around her. From a young age, she was curious about life beyond the rolling hills of northwest Arkansas. That curiosity blossomed into a lifelong passion for travel. She carried the grace and kindness of her roots with her everywhere she went.
Despite her many adventures, Cora Lee always found her compass pointing back to Northwest Arkansas. It was here that she found peace in familiar faces, in the changing seasons, and in the steady rhythm of a community she cherished deeply. She believed there was no place quite like home.
She will be remembered not only for her journeys, but for her deep compassion, her storytelling, and her ability to make everyone she met feel like an old friend. She lived with a generous spirit, a curious mind, and a joyful heart.
Cora Lee is survived by her son, Randall Wayne Gardenhire (Joanne) of Romance, Arkansas, and her daughter, Alice Louise Talley (Juston) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, brother, Jim Ward (Vergean) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, 12 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Daisy Blossom and Florence Elzy.
Family and friends will gather to honor her life and share memories of the remarkable woman she was at 1:00PM on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
The arrangements were entrusted to Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs, AR. To sign the online guestbook or to order flowers, please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1401 E Main Street, Siloam Springs, AR 72761
People and places connected with Cora
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Cora Garrett
Tell your own story about Cora
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Make a Donation
in Cora Garrett's name
How to support Cora's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Cora Garrett's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
