Diane Carson

Diane J. Carson, 86, of Eustis, Florida died July 9. Born in Little Rock, AR, the daughter of Joseph C. and Gladys E. Jackson. She was predeceased in death by her husband of 60 years, Theo K. “Buck” Carson. Her kindness, class and loving nature touched everyone she met. Diane grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas, graduated from North Little Rock (Arkansas) High School and earned a B.A. from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. When she met and married her husband, Buck Carson, the two of them traveled around the world in the early years when Buck was in the Air Force. They lived in Colorado, Japan, and Mississippi before settling in Florida in the early 1950’s where together they built Carson Groves and T.K. Carson & Sons, both successful orange grove companies. They both loved their many decades of being in the citrus business. Diane and her husband Buck were members of both Silver Lake Country Club (Leesburg, FL), where Diane served a term as club President, and Pine Meadows Country Club (Eustis, FL). They were active playing golf and were involved in the social activities of the clubs. Diane was a person of high integrity and keen intellect. When her father passed away in 1976, Diane became the President of the company her father had founded in 1933, the Jackson Cookie Company in North Little Rock, AR. She presided over the company for five years, during which the company’s sales doubled. The company was sold in 1981. Diane was known by her family and her many friends as a person with a zest for life, with a robust spirit to live life to its fullest. She loved to work in her garden at her homes on Silver Lake and later, at the home she and Buck moved into in Eustis in 1999. Her home from a tropical paradise with a wide variety of plants, trees, shrubbery, flowers, and roses. She was a member of the Leesburg Garden Club. Diane traveled widely with a group of friends, visiting many wonderful places in Europe, China and the U.S. She was involved in charitable activity serving on the Lake Sumter College Foundation to raise scholarship funds for deserving students as well as the Make A Wish Foundation through her involvement with the New York City gala event, Night of 100 Trees . Through the years, as her children lived in various locations around the country, the family would always gather for the Fourth of July holiday at her and Buck’s home. It was the one time of the year the family never missed. This year was no different as every member in Diane’s family came to Eustis to see her. It was a very special time and you could see the happiness on her face when the family was all together. Even though she was becoming very weak, she gathered up all of her strength to join in the festivities of the holiday, and to spend as much time as she could with her family, whom she loved so much. She passed away just a few days later. Diane is survived by her three sons, Steve Carson of Eustis, FL, Sam Carson (Jan) of Memphis, TN, and Joe Carson (Sue) of Tavares, FL., her brother Conlee Jackson of Whitehall, AR, her three grandchildren Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson of Wantagh, NY, Steed Carson of Memphis, TN, and Anne Marie Carson, also of Memphis, and a great grandson, Christian Carson. Services will be held Thursday, July 14th , 2016 at 11:30 A.M. at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 317 South Mary Street, Eustis, Florida. The Reverend John W. Lipscomb III, Rector, will be presiding. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. A graveside ceremony will follow and is open to all friends and family. Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis