The Takin’ Cara Business Foundation is named in memory of Cara West.

Cara West was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, and downtown Walnut Ridge business owner. She was the proprietor of The Dark Side Coffee House, which was located next to Beatles Park for nine years. Cara was known for her amazing culinary creations, and her sense of style. She also made amazing bowties and head scarves, that were sold and shipped all over the world, under the name Just Tie One On. She was a talented seamstress, and loved to design and sew. She made clothes and accessories for children and adults alike. Cara had many talents, was a bit of a perfectionist, and she made the difficult look easy. She was a Bible school teacher at church for more than 30 years, and worked at CRA in Paragould when her children were young. She loved the beach, and reading in her chair while listening to the waves was her favorite place to be.

Cara was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma, a very rare form of cancer in December of 2019. After relocating to Houston to take very aggressive cancer treatment at MD Anderson, she passed away just seven short weeks later, on February 8, 2020, at the young age of 54. During her stay at MD Anderson, despite enduring the sickness from chemotherapy, Cara shared her faith to everyone around her, and her care team became very close to her, and were touched by her love for God, and her positive outlook. She left behind her husband of thirty five years, Danny, four children, Maddison, Victoria, Clancy, and Reece, and grandmother of several grandchildren, three of whom were born after her passing. She is loved and missed by many.

Through Cara, we will continue to spread love and support to those who are in the fight.