Martha Jo Pearce

The best mom in the world passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2020, at 90 years old. Martha Jo Pearce left this world to be with her husband, Joe King Pearce, who passed in January of this year. Their life together was a love story. Martha Jo was born in Tye Plant, Arkansas and grew up in North Little Rock with her loving family. She was the first woman in her family to go to college which was financed by her older sister and her brother-in-law. She began school at Arkansas State Teachers College in 1948 where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and the sweetheart of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. It was also where she met the love of her life, Joe King Pearce. They dated throughout college and married when Joe returned from Korea. As always, those around her recognized her as their sweetheart.

Martha Jo worked for the power company in Arkansas, where she traveled from town to town showing housewives how to use electricity in their homes. She would demonstrate the use of electric ovens, stoves, and other appliances. Once she was married, she became a teacher until she gave birth to her first-born, Andy. Jo Ann and Mary Ellen came along a few years later. She loved being a mom, wife, den mother, homeroom mom, bridge player, cook and baker.

As her children grew up, the family expanded to include her real pride and joy – her grandchildren. James, Allison, Jackson, and Jeremy made her so happy and she was so proud of everything they did. She went to wrestling matches, cheer competitions, football games, graduations and plays - sitting front row and ready with a hug afterward.

She will be greatly missed and leaves behind a loving family that will always feel the loss dearly: Andy, his wife Terri and son Jackson Pearce; Jo Ann, her husband Ron, son Jeremy and daughter-in-law Megan; Mary Ellen, her husband John, son James and daughter Allison. She is survived by her sisters-in-law Adelle Mattox, Jessie Pearce and her nieces and nephews.

Services will be held to celebrate the life, love and memories of Martha Jo Pearce on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 11 am at Lakeway Church. Donations to her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital may be made in lieu of flowers.