Juanita Provan Carson of Shelby, Ohio passed from our care to the Lord’s care on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Juanita was born to William and Eleanor Provan in Amsterdam, Ohio on July 24, 1937. She was second youngest of six children, three brothers and sisters. Growing up on their farm near Harlem Springs, Ohio meant a life of hard work and almost none of today’s luxuries, but it was also a life of outdoor fun in the fresh air and Juanita and her family moved to “city life” in New Philadelphia, Ohio when she was a young teen. She attended New Philadelphia high school and when she graduated, she found a job working as a bank teller. For fun and socializing, like today’s young people, she went dancing - but instead of nightclubs, 1950’s teens in her part of the world came together at dance pavilions for big bands, polka or square dancing. One summer night in 1956, Juanita accompanied her sister to a dance at the popular Zoar Lake Dance Hall in Zoar, Ohio. A handsome young man asked her to dance, then told his friend “One day I’m going to marry that girl.” Ralph “Ike” Carson (1934-2023) had to wait a year or two until his tour of duty in the U.S. Army was done-then he and Juanita Provan were married in New Philadelphia on October 25, 1958.

Juanita and Ike made their home in Circleville and then Carrollton, Ohio, where their four children were born, while Ike was posted as an officer in the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Juanita was a busy mom and homemaker. Later they moved to Salem, Ohio, where Juanita worked as a bank teller and then as a loan officer at the First National Bank of Salem. The family eventually moved to Shelby, where Juanita continued her career as a loan officer at the Shelby First National Bank; she made many lifelong friends among her colleagues and bank customers.

Juanita’s greatest joy was preparing her home to welcome family and friends and creating delicious meals and homemade treats for them; her homemade peach cobbler and cherry pie were great favorites. Juanita retired from Shelby First National Bank when her grandchildren began to arrive, so that she could spend those years making memories with her children and seven grandchildren. There were many sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa Carson’s house, and many family gatherings filled with joy and endless laughter - Juanita was famous for laughing herself to tears around the card or dinner table.

In each community where she lived, Juanita was an active member of service clubs, making many lifelong friends while working together to benefit the community, raise scholarships, and help others. In Shelby, she was a member of the Gamma Beta chapter of Lambda Chi Omega sorority; she and her fellow members worked to raise scholarship funds for Shelby Senior High School graduates. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelby and cherished the many friends she made there. She was also a regular at the local Snap fitness club where she and her friends enjoyed exercising and sharing coffee afterward. She was quite a skilled Euchre partner; she and Dad were hard to beat. They also enjoyed traveling, and cruised to Alaska and to the Panama Canal, with many side trips across the United States.

Juanita was preceded in passing by her Ike, her husband of almost 60 years; her parents William McMaster Provan and Eleanor Steffens Provan, her brother Bill Provan, and her sister Marilyn (Provan) Pocock-Embrey.

Juanita is lovingly remembered by her children, Scott (Cheryl) Carson of Lancaster, Ohio; Cathy Carson of Powell, Ohio; Brian (Holly) Carson of Galion, Ohio; and Caren Carson of Shelby; as well as seven grandchildren: Andrew (Kelsey) Carson of Dublin, Ohio; Derek (Amy) Carson of Fairlawn, Ohio; Aaron Carson of Boswell, Pennsylvania; Sophie Carson of Fort Worth, Texas; and Jordann, Jackie, and Carson Garrett, all of Shelby.

Juanita’s family will welcome friends and family at Shelby First Presbyterian Church, 24 N. Gamble Street in Shelby on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for remembrance. A short memorial service will immediately follow at 12:00 PM with Pastor James Robinson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to your local nonprofit hospice organization or to the First Presbyterian Church of Shelby.

Memories and condolences may be left online at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com

Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby has been honored to assist the family with arrangements.