Arva Barton Carroll, 88, died Dec. 20, 2009, at South Peninsula Hospital. Services are at 11:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 2009, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2821 East End Road. Graveside services follow at Hickerson Memorial Cemetery, with a community gathering and luncheon after the graveside services at the church. Pallbearers will be Ross Carroll, Jay Carroll, Glenn Carroll, AlRay Carroll, Weston Carroll and Atz Lee Kilcher.

Carroll was born Oct. 6, 1921, in St. George, Utah, where she attended high school. She and her husband Jay Carroll first came to Alaska in 1940, where they homesteaded in the Fairbanks area from 1940-51. Carroll lived in Seward from 1951-58, and moved to Homer in 1958. She worked as a switchboard operator in Fairbanks and Seward and as a cook and administrator of meals for Homer public schools for 15 years. She retired in the mid-1970s.

A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Arva served countless hours as the compassionate service leader in her church as well as in the community. Her hobbies included quilting, crocheting, reading, cooking and gardening.

"Arva had a shepherd's heart and will be remembered in the hearts and prayers of so many for her acts of kindness to them. A lot of people remember Arva as the 'Cinnamon Roll lady,' and several generations of Homerites have lined up for that special treat at school on cinnamon roll days. So many people have one of Arva's quilts that she made for their baby's birth or for a wedding," her family said.

Arva Carroll was preceded in death by her husband, Jay Carroll, who died in 1993.

She is survived by Ross Carroll and family of Victoria, Texas; Glen Carroll and family of Homer; Jay Carroll and family of Homer; Nedra Carroll and family; AlRay Carroll and family of Homer; Mary Carroll of Orem, Utah; and Bill and Gloria Corey Carroll of Homer.

Memorial donations may be made to the Homer Senior Citizen Center in Carroll's name for her many happy years under their care at the Friendship Terrace, Homer Senior Citizen Center 3935 Svedlund St., Homer, Alaska 99603.