Constance Jo Deaton, 71, passed away at home on October 2, 2022, after a short battle with cancer.
Connie was born and raised in Newman, Illinois, the daughter of Robert and Freida Baxter Clapp. She married Jack Deaton on December 7, 1985, in Holiday Island, Ark. Jack survives her.
She’s also survived by son, Jason Markewitz (Melissa) of Killen, Ala., and stepsons she loved as her own, Bobby (Katrina) Deaton, and Rick (Lori) Deaton, both of Beaver, Ark. Connie is also survived by three grandchildren that she adored: Kyle (Allie) Deaton of Holiday, Island, Ark., Kevin Deaton of Bentonville, Ark., and her favorite granddaughter Kylee Markewitz of Killen, Ala., brother Richard L. (Marty) Clapp of Titusville, Fla., and sister Jackie (Mike) Joines of Brocton, Ill. Connie is predeceased by her parents, her late husband Mike Markewitz, brother, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece.
Connie achieved her childhood dream by receiving her nursing degree from Peoria Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1972. She shared her gift of caring for others in Norfolk, Va., Tulsa, Okla., and finally in Eureka Springs, Ark., where she spent much of her career as Dr. Dan Bell’s nurse and as an emergency room nurse.
She furthered her medical career by attaining her EMT certification, Search and Rescue certification, and becoming a member of the Holiday Island Fire Department where she was an integral part of training department personnel and as a member of the Carroll County Search and Rescue team.
Connie and Jack owned and operated Deaton’s Texaco in Holiday Island for 18 years where she was known for pumping gas and checking blood pressures. She was also a good mechanic.
Connie’s passions were reading, traveling with Jack, eating seafood, adventures of any kind on the beach or in the snow, riding motorcycles, junk shopping, sewing, driving fast, and most of all, dirt track racing.
She was a proud dirt track driver winning races at the Tulsa Speedway and was recognized as Owner of the Year (the first and only female owner) by Tulsa Speedway in 1981.
She also received EMT of the Year and numerous other awards and honors during her medical career.
Funeral service was Friday, October 7, 2022, at Nelson’s Chapel of the Springs with Pastor Bill Melton officiating. Interment followed at Gaskins Switch Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Holiday Island Fire Department, 251 Holiday Island Drive, Holiday Island, AR 72631, or Eureka Springs Library, 194 Spring Street, Eureka Springs, AR 72632.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Services. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com ©Nelson Funeral Services, Inc. 2022.