Joan Gooch Barnhill

Joan Gooch Barnhill, 87, of Russellville, died Monday, February 6, 2017, with her family by her side, in Dardanelle, Arkansas. Joan was born July 3, 1929 in Tullahoma, Tennessee to Mary Ruth and Charles Eugene Gooch. Her father was a grocery salesman and her mother, a florist. Her father died in a car accident when she was seventeen. Joan was high-spirited and adventurous and learned to fly in a Piper Cub, soloing at age 13. She owned horses, and mothered any stray animals she came across. She attended Gulf Park College for Women in Gulfport, Mississippi, graduating in 1950. On a trip after graduation to visit a classmate in Corning, Arkansas, Joan met the love of her life, Roy Corbett Barnhill Jr., at a popular swimming hole on Current River. They married in Tullahoma, Tennessee the 20th of August, 1950 and moved to Conway where Roy finished school at Arkansas State Teachers College. After his graduation, they lived in Venice, California and Alaska, before moving back to Corning. There Roy owned JoJo's Texaco service station and a catfish hatchery while Joan was the homemaker. They later lived in Little Rock in a big old house at 3229 Mary Street, that is no longer there. In Little Rock Joan worked hard at several places including the Timex factory, AMX, Orbit Valve, and a silk flower factory, while lovingly raising seven children. In later life, she took care of the children of several other families, thoroughly earning their love and affection. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Corbett Barnhill Jr.; a sister, Patricia Gooch; and a brother, Charles Gooch. Survivors include her children and their spouses, Berkeley and Baron Stewart, Becky and Bill Watson, Roy and Lori Barnhill, Charles Barnhill, Jo and Dawn Barnhill, Rose Ann Barnhill, and Mark and Jennifer Barnhill; grandchildren and their spouses, Madison, Justin and Jo Stewart, Dan Doughty and Leslie Burgdorfer, Jonelle and Roberto Ortiz, Brittany, Taylor and Brianna Barnhill; Leighton Barnhill and Kayla Alexander, Leighton Ragsdale, Stephanie and Aaron McElroy, Julie and Brad Sanders, Jill Evans and fiancé Bobby Edwards, and Caroline Barnhill; and two great-grandchildren, Cruz Ortiz, with another baby on the way from Julie and Brad Sanders. Joan was a proud member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Her favorite sanctuary was deep in the woods, under tall cypresses and spreading dogwoods. We will miss her orneriness terribly. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Shinn Chapel with Bro. Eddie Rogers and Bro. Daniel Conditt officiating. Burial will be private and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. The family will receive friends following the service in the chapel. Memorials may be made in Joan's honor to Nature Conservancy, 601 N. University Ave # 2, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. The Nature Conservancy works hard in Arkansas to preserve and care for extraordinary, diverse natural lands. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.