Jodi Jo Carolyn (Forte) McAnear

Jo Carolyn (Jodi) Forte McAnear of Maumelle, AR passed peacefully at home with her daughters by her side on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at the age of 77. She was born June 14, 1946 in Little Rock, AR.

Jodi loved bringing beauty into the world.  Her home was always exquisitely decorated.  Her flowers colorful, meticulously tended to and arranged to bring joy to the eyes everywhere you turned.  She once said they were, “proof God loves us and wants us to enjoy them.”  She never looked less than glamourous.  Dressed to the nines, she was noticed the minute she entered a room. She loved going to the lake with her family and friends.  Despite not being a swimmer, she was usually the first one on the boat.  She and Darvin loved fishing, except when she tried to hook him or a tree like a fish. They often times spent hours just driving around going to look at his cabinet jobs or auctions. She and Darvin enjoyed spending time cooking out and sitting around a fire with her daughter Pam and husband Scotty.  She and her sister Charlotte were best friends and they could be heard laughing a mile away when they were together.  Her family was always the forefront of her activities.  She loved her family and spending time with them. She was prominent in the raising of her grandson, Trey and great grandson Jude – who she was quick to say “are perfect.”  She loved and adored all of her great grandbabies.  She had such pride when she would show videos or pictures of them.  Adrianna was her little Beauty Queen and she could never speak enough about how beautiful she is.  Lewis was her little handsome devil that was so full of mischief and such an entertainer with a tender heart. Later in her life, she returned to her lifelong passion of dancing.  She loved dancing more than anyone else on earth.  And when she got on those sparkly pants….she would light up the world because she knew it was DANCE TIME!  Her Happy Feet sparkled all over the dance floor in her fancy blinged out dance shoes.  She was always a favorite to dance with and enjoyed teaching new dancers basic steps.  She would explain to a beginner, “now this is how my mother taught us”, then she would show them a basic box step and a side to side step.  Before you knew it, we had another dancer in our community.  Jeri and Jodi danced all over central Arkansas 3 to 5 nights a week regularly for the past decade.  They even went to a beach dance party for a special event.  Jodi danced all the way to her final days – even if it was only in the living room with her daughter, sister or a visiting friend.  She was tenderly cared for by Grace Nachreiner who was not only her caregiver but quickly became part of our family.  Jodi will be remembered and missed by many.  She touched everyone’s heart she met. She was kind, gentle and loving.  She was forgiving and understanding of people’s shortcomings and faults.  She was a true lady.

Jodi was preceded in death by her parents Carthel and Wanoka Forte, a sister Sharon (Sissy) Forte Mathews, a daughter Amber Lea Howard, her husband Darvin McAnear, her beloved Furbaby Ziggy and Grand Furbaby Dudley.

She is survived by two daughters Pamela Bender and husband Scotty and Jeri Foster and partner Jonathan, two grandsons Landon Bender and Trey Alton, three great grandchildren Jude, Adrianna and Lewis and a sister Charlotte Forte Rhode as well as many cousins, nephews and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date and an announcement will be made on FaceBook when those arrangements are made.  In lieu of flowers/plants/food, please make a donation in her memory to your local animal shelter or humane society.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Ste B1, Little Rock, AR 72205.