JoAnn Bowling was born August 5, 1936 on Sugar Creek Road in Avoca, Arkansas, and died on Sugar Creek Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 2, 2021. JoAnn’s parents were Gene W Moore, Sr and Grace Gramling Moore. Brothers are Gene Moore, Jr (wife Lucie) of Texas, Stan Moore (wife Marie) of Booneville, Arkansas and Steven Moore of Benton County, Arkansas.
Most of her growing up years were spent in Des Arc, Arkansas. JoAnn made a friend in 6th grade with a little girl named Agnes. These two have remained dear friends for 74 years. JoAnn graduated from Des Arc High School in 1954 and attended the University of Arkansas as a Home Economics major in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. Evidence of her natural beauty, she was chosen to represent the College of Agriculture and Home Economics to be a contestant for the Miss University of Arkansas beauty pageant.
At the age of 13, JoAnn met a 12-year-old boy at church named Jimmie Lee Bowling, Sr. She thought he had beautiful blue eyes and he knew he wanted her to be his wife. After church, they spent the rest of the day playing croquet in her Grandmother’s front yard. Even though they lived over 200 miles apart, they continued to see each other frequently through their growing up years because their Grandmothers lived across the street from each other in Prairie Grove and because Jimmie would travel to see her. JoAnn worked in Des Arc for a year after high school graduation, then moved to Prairie Grove in time to attend Jimmie’s high school graduation. That summer, she lived with her Grandma and worked in a tomato canning factory, mainly to be near Jimmie. They dated while attending college and were married August 4, 1956 at the Methodist Church of Levy, Arkansas.
Entrusted to their care were David Mitchell Bowling (wife Cindy) of Vilonia, Jimmie Lee Bowling, Jr (wife Gay) of Conway and Laura LeeAnn Quicksall (husband James) of North Little Rock. Her grandchildren are Carolyn JoAnn Jez, Joshua David Bowling, and Shanna Mary Toutant of Massachusetts; Craig Michael Bowling and Callie Grace Bowling of Conway; Zachary David Bowling of Vilonia, Jacob Aaron Bowling of Tennessee; and Christopher Brandon Quicksall of North Little Rock. They lovingly refer to her as Gram; a name she chose and cherished because of her love for her Grandpa Gramling. Great grandchildren are Jazmin Toutant, Summer Toutant, Chayton Bowling, Elijah Jez, Keaghan Jez, Jonas Toutant and Landon Bowling of Massachusetts; Jace Bowling, Harper Bowling and Hadley Bowling of Conway.
As an equal partner and soulmate in life, JoAnn supported her husband’s education, his career, and taking care of their life and family, mutually considering this a noble profession. JoAnn’s natural beauty was only dimmed by her inner beauty which was evident by her walk with Christ and her service to others, especially her family.
JoAnn was gifted in knit and crochet as well as being an award-winning seamstress. She worked for Leisure Arts as a Pattern Writer and for many years as a Pattern Tester, which afforded her the ability to work from home as well as on their many travels. She personally made many knitted caps for Arkansas Children’s Hospital and CARTI, as well as making caps and mats for the homeless through a ministry of her church. On one particular occasion alone, she delivered 100 of her handmade caps to CARTI. She always contributed her handmade goods to the Methodist Women’s Bazaar which benefitted a multitude of charities within the church and community.
JoAnn was committed to her Heavenly Father and His church. The traditions of the church were very important to her. She loved and studied, in depth, the sacraments of the Methodist Church, the symbolism of the ornaments placed on the Chrismon tree, and specifically the Christmas story. Frequently she talked of the significance of Mary and Joseph’s obedience to God, especially understanding how they were perceived by the people of their time.
Survived by her immediate family, she is also survived by many nieces and nephews as well as many dear friends. Memorials may be made to North Little Rock’s First United Methodist Church (www.nlrfumc.org/give), Methodist Family Health (www.methodistfamily.org), or BrightFocus Foundation for Macular Degeneration Research (support.brightfocus.org).
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