Jo Carol Nark

Jo Carol (Williams) Nark, beloved mother, wife, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was born on December 30, 1939, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Wilma and Robert Williams. Carol’s early years were shaped by her family’s time in the Carribean, spending her first five years in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where her father worked as an electrician. The family later settled in Queens, New York, where Jo Carol grew up as an only child. She married the love of her life, James “Jim” H. Nark, in 1965 and in 1974 started their family on Long Island, NY. Carol was a devoted mother who focused on raising their two sons, James ("Jimmy") and Robert ("Bobby"). Her parents lived just around the corner and played an active role in her life and the lives of her children. Carol’s love for her boys was boundless. She spent years shuffling them between football, soccer, and baseball practices—always their biggest cheerleader. She instilled in them the values of education, kindness, and respect, and led by example through her faith, warmth, and generosity. A devout Catholic, Carol taught Sunday School alongside her sons’ godmother, a nun, nurturing not only their minds but their spirits. She was quick to offer a hug, a hot meal, a word of encouragement—or a gentle correction when needed. Her kitchen was the heart of the home and was often filled with the sounds of dinner, laughter, and ruckus, from her sons and their friends. Summers spent visiting family in Virginia provided a welcome contrast to city life. In 1995, she and Jim moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, to be near their sons as they attended the University of Tennessee and enjoyed the friendships they formed in the Tellico Village community. Her beloved husband, Jim, cared for her until his passing in 2018, after fifty-two years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her faithful dog, Red. Carol is survived by her sons, James F. Nark (Elisabeth) of Atlanta and Robert L. Nark of Knoxville, who will forever carry her love, strength, and compassion in their hearts. A service to honor her life will be held at Rose Mortuary on Tuesday, April 22 at 9:30am.

Tributes

Jo Carol Nark

December 30, 1939 - April 17, 2025