Lois Mae Barnett

Lois Mae Fallis Barnett, 84, died October 11 in Batesville, Arkansas. The daughter of James Northcraft "Jimmie" Churchill Fallis and Thomas Layman Fallis, she was born in Charlotte, Arkansas on April 19, 1926. She was married for 62 years to James F. "Jim" Barnett. She was blessed with beauty. A friend said, "Lois was always the prettiest girl in her class." She wore her beauty with a natural grace that endeared her to all. In her early teens she acquired a nickname, "Chunk", and it stayed for the rest of her life. In 1946 she competed in the first post World War II Miss Arkansas Contest as Miss Batesville. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and for many years she acknowledged the memorial gifts. She enjoyed her membership in the Junior Auxiliary. She was president of the Independence County Chapter, then she rose through the regional and national offices to serve as national president in 1970-71. She was a 50 year member of the Eastern Star and the DAR. She was a long time member of PEO. Until her retirement, she was buyer of women's wear at Barnett Brothers Department Store. She was an avid reader and was a member of the Independence County Regional Library Board for many years. She pieced and quilted beautiful quilts that her family will enjoy for many years to come. Her home has chair seats and wall hangings of her needlepoint. She was an accomplished cook and contributed a number of her recipes to various organizations' cookbooks. She was a devoted wife, mother and doted on her grandchildren. The family wants to express its appreciation to her doctors, Dr. Bob Slaughter and Dr. Homer Brooks and to the aides, nurses and staff at Wood-Lawn Nursing Home for their gentle loving care in her final weeks and days. Special thanks go to her primary caregiver Annie Manley and to her back-up caregiver Jo Ann Liles for their tender patient care. White River Area Agency on Aging rendered special service and she enjoyed the Meals on Wheels. She is survived by her husband, her sons, James F. Barnett, Jr. and his wife Sharon; Robertson Fallis Barnett; her daughter Susan Matinchek and her husband Henry and her two grandchildren, James Franklin Matinchek and Callie Margaret Matinchek. Her two brothers, Kenneth Fallis and his wife Joan; and Don Edward Fallis and his wife Inez. She is blessed with a large and loving extended family of brothers- and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. The family will appreciate a visit from friends at the Barnett Farm on Highway 25 east of Batesville from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The service will be at the First United Methodist Church at 10 a.m., Thursday. Ministers will be Bob Burton and Kay Burton. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville. Pallbearers will be David Watters, Danny Dozier, Chad Everett, Skipper Rutherford, Gayle Jones and Elmer Heringer. Honorary Pallbearers are the Progressive Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Lyon College, Office of Institutional Advancement, PO Box 2317, Batesville, Ark. 72503 and First United Methodist Church, 615 E. Main Street, Batesville, Ark/ 72501 and the Independence County Library, 368 E. Main Street, Batesville, Ark. 72501. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.