Carl (C.J.) Jess Lough, age 79, of Holiday Island, Arkansas, passed away at the Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Mr. Lough, son of Golden Carl and Winnie (Canaday) Lough, was born on February 17, 1942, in Geary, Oklahoma. On February 27, 1981, he was united in marriage to Beverly Dikeman (nee Thomas) in Mulvane, Kansas.

C.J. was a person who worked extremely hard and after graduating from South High School in Wichita, Kansas, went on to work at Boeing for 35 years retiring as a supervisor over the aircraft painting sectors. As a young boy, his mother introduced him to a love of music and taught him to dance. He carried this love of dancing well into his retirement years and expressed his love of music by serving as the Bell Choir Director for two choirs. Being a huge sports fan he was able to express his passion by not only coaching several children's sports teams, but also coaching his own children in football and softball. His love of sports did not stop with football, basketball or baseball and expanded into golf, where he had been a member and president of the Holiday Island men's league. His favorite time of year was Christmas. He would spend months preparing and weeks decorating the house and he always incorporated something new each year. He enjoyed seeing if family & friends could guess what new decorations he had added.

He is survived by his wife Beverly Lough of Holiday Island, Arkansas his five children, Lori Miller, of Gilbert Arizona, Kellie Mize, of Wichita, Kansas, Jamie Lough Wichita, Kansas, Darcie Goodjohn and her husband Paul Goodjohn of Crestwood Kentucky, and Chad Dikeman and his wife Sandy, of Wichita, Kansas; brother-in-law, Jerry Gray, of Wichita, Kansas; ten grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, C.J. was preceded in death by his sister, Hazel Gray.

No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of the White Funeral Home and Crematory, Cassville, Missouri.