Carl Gene Bentley Jr. left this world on Jan. 18, 2022, at the age of 49, in Jonesboro, Ark., surrounded by his family at St. Bernards Medical Center. The family is deeply saddened by his passing after a truly courageous month-long battle against COVID-19. Carl Jr. was born July 6, 1972, to Carl Sr. and Valerie (Martin) Bentley, in Ceres, Calif., the eldest of three children. Carl Jr. always looked up to his dad and cherished the time they spent together, whether it be shooting the breeze on long truck rides or learning how to work on cars. Carl Jr. earned a college degree in Modesto, Calif., and worked side-by-side with his father in the automotive and trucking industry for over a decade before entering the retail industry. After relocating to Mountain Grove with his family in 2005, Carl Jr. joined the Walmart team, committing nearly two decades in managerial positions whilst gaining a second family amongst his co-workers. Carl Jr. was passionate about work, but he also had an impressive knack for technology and building computers. He loved the Marvel and DC universes, comics and collectibles, classic cartoons of the 1980s and anything to do with Star Wars and Star Trek. Carl Jr. was truly a kid at heart and showed this through his love of Christmas and giving special presents to his family whenever he could.
Carl Jr. was preceded in death by his father, Carl Gene Bentley Sr., on May 28, 2021. Carl Jr. is survived by his adoring mother, Valerie Bentley, of Mountain Grove, along with his brother, Branden Bentley, of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Stephanie Lyon, of Oshkosh, Wisc.;, and a sister-in-law, Olivia Bentley, of Tulsa, Okla. Graveside services for Carl Bentley Jr. were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in the Hillcrest Cemetery of Mountain Grove, with the Rev. Gene Edwards officiating. Special songs were “You’ve Got A Friend In Me,” “Because You Loved Me” and “Power of Love.” Burial was in the Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove.
