Johnny Belle Arnold

Graveside services for Johnny Belle Arnold were held on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 in the Fort Towson Cemetery Chapel, with Pastor Bob O’Neill officiating.

Johnny Belle (Carroll) Arnold, 88, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on Feb. 11, 2025, after living a long, full, and fulfilled life. Johnny was born on Jan. 1, 1937 to Maggie Belle and James Cleveland Carroll in Rush Springs, Okla. She considered Dallas, Texas, home, but also stayed strongly connected to her roots in Fort Towson, Okla., where she was lovingly raised by her grandparents, Nannie Belle and Bill Williams.

She was offered a scholarship to business school at graduation from high school, but turned it down for a move to Dallas with her best friend, Joyce Brandon. With a suitcase, bus ticket, and $40 in her pocket, she started her life in Dallas.

She worked for the Cotton Belt Railroad for years, and then at PMT, which she retired from. She also worked for the Arthur Murray Dance School early on and was a top saleswoman. Johnny met Clay Charles Arnold in 1959 after he served in the U.S. Army, and they married soon after. They had a wonderful marriage that lasted 65 years. She loved the Texas Rangers, church, PMT reunions, driving, shopping, traveling, black and white Western shows, stray cats, and getting her daily mail. She is preceded in death by: her husband, Clay Charles Arnold; daughter, Carolyn Hurdle, and son, Kenneth Arnold. She is survived by: son, Johnathon Arnold and wife of Dallas, Texas; daughter, Cindy Russell of Kevil, Ky.; five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home.