Carole F Laroche

Carole Frances LaRoche, born on July 24, 1945, in Centralia, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026 surrounded by love. She is survived by her devoted husband, Gerald LaRoche, and their children: Lance LaRoche (Tina) of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Brenda LaRoche of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Nicole Tubman (Casey) of Benton Harbor, Michigan.

She was a proud and loving grandmother to Ashlee Houston, Colten LaRoche, Carrington Tubman, Cole Tubman, Caroline Tubman, Preston Long, Paige Zimmer, and Lane LaRoche and a cherished great-grandmother to Caiden LaRoche, Braylin Houston, Liam LaRoche, and Oaklen LaRoche.

Carole was preceded in death by her mother, Frances Strickler Brown; her father, Kenneth Brown; her brothers, Cordell Brown and Martin Brown; and her beloved granddaughter, Logan LaRoche.

After following her husband around the world for 20 years during his military career, Carole and Gerald settled in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where they opened Calico County Restaurant 42 years ago. The restaurant became a beloved local gathering place.

Carole had a true gift for making people feel welcome. She loved a good charcuterie board paired with a glass of Chardonnay and took great joy in entertaining family and friends with special, lovingly prepared recipes. Her most famous dish was her spaghetti carbonara—a recipe she learned while living overseas in Naples, Italy. That treasured recipe has since been passed down through generations, becoming a lasting symbol of her love and family traditions.

Her peaceful place on earth was her condo on the beach in Perdido Key, Florida, a place she lovingly called paradise. There, she found peace by the water, often with a romance novel in hand, She will be remembered for her generosity, and the way she brought people together—around a table with food or simply her presence.