of Marshall, AR

October 14, 1926 - January 18, 2022

Margaret Jo Wasson, age 95 of Marshall, Arkansas passed from this life on Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 at Highland Court in Marshall, Arkansas. She was born at home in the Bear Creek Community of Searcy County, Arkansas on October 14th, 1926 to Irvin Bishop Wasson and Pearl Jane Turney Wasson. Her family operated a small country store, post office, and grist mill for several years on Bear Creek. Jo was a lifelong resident of Searcy County.

Jo's first schooling was at Bear Creek's community school, Cooper School. Her first teacher was Theodore Atkinson who boarded with the Wasson family while teaching on Bear Creek. Later at the beginning of fifth grade, Jo went to Snowball School where she graduated from high school with the class of 1944. During the school-week at Snowball School, Jo stayed at the home of her Grandmother Turney and shared a bedroom with her Aunt Woodroe. She would walk a mountain trail from Snowball back home to Bear Creek on weekends. Jo attended Central College and Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) at Conway where she earned a B.S.E. degree in 1950 and M.S.E. degree in Elementary Education in 1968. Jo taught 41 and one-half years in Searcy County. The Wasson's moved from Bear Creek to Snowball in 1946, where they continued to farm and raise beef cattle. In the early 1950's, they gave the land to build the Snowball Baptist Church upon. In 1967, the Wasson's bought a small acreage two miles west of Marshall and built a new home. The garden was a favorite spot around her cherished home place as she enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers. As Margaret Jo's life story was showered with a wonderful friendship garden of loving family, cherished students and fellow teachers, trusted business advisors, dedicated medical team, joyous traveling buddies, wonderful walking buddies, and blessed brothers and sisters in Christ, there's a bountiful harvest of precious memories! "A sweet friendship refreshes the soul"...Proverbs 27:9. Jo was a well respected Christian lady who was a friend of many. Jo attended Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Marshall and was also a charter member of Snowball Baptist Church in Snowball. She was a lifetime member of Arkansas Teacher Retirement & Searcy County Teacher Retirement, a committee member of Snowball School Reunion & Homecoming, a member of Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, a member of the Searcy County Ancestor Information Exchange, and an honored Woodman Life's 2021 Fraternalist of the Year.

Survivors include Jo's first cousins, Mary Margaret Horton and husband James, their son, Michael and wife Lesley and their grandson, Silas, all of Snowball and Mary Jane Holder of Harrison; and a host of extended family and friends who will mourn her passing.
Jo was preceded in death by her dear parents, Bishop and Pearl Wasson; her brother, who was stillborn (1925) and buried at Bear Creek Cemetery; and her cherished family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services for Jo will be 2:00 PM Saturday, January 22nd, 2022 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Roy Ragland officiating. Visitation will be 1:00 till 2:00 PM preceding the service. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery where Jo will rest beside her parents. Bearers will be Michael Horton, Rick Horton, Sid Lowrance, Bill McEntire, Johnny Neel and Steve Padilla. Honorary bearers will be Highland Court Staff. The family would like to thank the staff of Highland Court for their "outstanding care!" In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Snowball Civic Club for renovations of the Snowball Gym; mail to, Cathy Griffin, 304 Ozark Mountain Lane, Marshall, AR 72650 or direct deposit to First National Bank of North Arkansas in Marshall, Arkansas.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
923 Highway 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com