Peggy Ruth Plunkett

Peggy Ruth Kerr Carr Plunkett, 88, of Natchitoches, LA, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 26, 2024.  She was born in Baton Rouge, LA, on Aug. 19, 1935.  Peggy graduated from Baton Rouge High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1957 and a Master of Education in Psychology in 1992, both from Northwestern State University.

Nursing was Peggy’s true calling, and she enjoyed a long, successful career helping others and leveraging her nursing education to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, and home health agencies.  She was a nurse educator, and prior to her retirement she wrote curriculums for LPN and EMT students.  She also worked part-time at the Natchitoches Women’s Resource Center.

Peggy was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches, where she enjoyed singing in the Chancel Choir and serving as Director of the Pumpkin Patch Program.  She was also active in Chapter I in the PEO Sisterhood where she served as President and was honored as a PEO Golden Girl for 50 years of membership. In June, she will be honored for 60 years of service at the State Convention. 

Peggy’s great passion was sewing. She won awards for heirloom dresses she made for her granddaughters. She also made quilts, curtains, and clothes for all her grandchildren and her friends.  She made custom stitched labels noting the priceless pieces were made with “Love by GramPeg.”  These items will be treasured for generations by all.  Peggy was also known for having a sweet tooth, and she always had a homemade pound cake on the kitchen counter.

Peggy’s kind heart and happy spirit captured the attention of Oprah Winfrey in 2002 when during the after-show portion of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Peggy invited Oprah to come visit Natchitoches stating, “Everyone in Natchitoches loves you”. Two weeks later, Oprah knocked on Peggy’s door, unannounced, and spent the day with Peggy touring Natchitoches and visiting a local nursing home. Oprah and Peggy rode in the Northwestern State University Homecoming parade as Grand Marshalls together, that afternoon, completely unplanned.  Oprah then featured Peggy on her show in the Fall of 2002 and as a result, both Peggy and Natchitoches became known nationally.   Everywhere Peggy went for many years after the show aired, people recognized her.

Peggy is survived by her children, Karen Carr Townsend and her husband, Bill of Natchitoches Patti Carr Weber of Keller, Texas; and Brent Carr and his wife, Andree’ of Keller, Texas; and the father of her children, Dr. Dan Baker Carr of Natchitoches.  She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Anne Townsend Zeichner and her husband Dr. Ben Zeichner of Aledo, Texas; William Clayton Townsend of Natchitoches; Rachel Carr Kozma and her husband Matt of Fort Worth; Andrew “Drew” Brent Carr of New York City; Davis Patrick Carr of Keller; Grace “Gracie” Anne Weber and Claire Marie Weber of Keller..  She was also blessed with a great-granddaughter, Aubrey Anne Zeichner of Aledo, Texas.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents Mary Rebecca “Mamie” Kerr and Anthony Pettus Kerr, Sr.; her brothers Miller Patrick Kerr; Anthony Pettus Kerr, Jr. and Edward Flower Kerr and his wife, Audrey Miller Kerr; her sister, Juliet Kerr Thees and her husband, Al Thees; and her beloved husband Billy Paul Plunkett.

The family sincerely thanks Patty Linder, Suzone Cliburn, and Connie Linder for the amazing, loving, and generous care they provided to Peggy over the past two years; the nurses at Bristol Hospice Shreveport, specifically Patricia Williams and Shari Powell; and to Hospice of Natchitoches. The family also extends its gratitude to Ruby Efferson, Deborah Haskett, Deannda Bernstein, Estelle Casson, Cynthia Johnson, and Russel Bienvenu for the support and care they provided.

Services for Peggy Plunkett will be held at First United Methodist Church Crossroads Worship Center, Natchitoches on Saturday, June 1, 2024.  Visitation will begin at 12 p.m. with a Celebration of Life service beginning at 2 p.m. Graveside services will be held at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Winnfield, LA.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are William C. Townsend, Dr. Ben Zeichner, Matt Kozma, Andrew “Drew” Carr, Davis Carr and Russel Bienvenu.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First United Methodist Church at 411 Second St, Natchitoches, LA 71457.