Joanne McConnell was born in Mt. Ida, Arkansas on June 27, 1952, to James Blair McConnell and Hazel Sue Hovell. She was the youngest of 8 children. She attended Mt. Ida school district and graduated with honors in the class of 1970. While growing up in the Ozarks, Joanne was active in basketball and enjoyed swimming in Lake Ouachita and area creeks.
After graduating high school, Joanne received an academic scholarship to attend Arkansas College (Lyon College) in Batesville, AR. While attending, she was an active member and President of her sorority, KKA. Joanne graduated from Arkansas College with a degree in English in 1974. While she was in college in Batesville, she met her future husband, Gary White. They married in June of 1974 and later welcomed two daughters, Meghan and Blair. Joanne later continued her education at the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University as a graduate student, concentrating in both English and Writing.
Following graduation at Arkansas College, Joanne was hired by Forrest City School District to teach math at the high school, eventually changing over to the subject of English. She continued to teach English at Forrest City High School until 2000. While she was there, Joanne was active in Yearbook, the school newspaper, Quiz Bowl, Quill and Scroll, and the Beta Club as their sponsor.
In 2000, Joanne moved across the state with her daughters to Rogers, AR. She taught English at Oakdale Middle School until she moved to the newly constructed Heritage High School in 2008. She continued to teach there until her retirement in 2012, concluding 38 years of teaching.
After retiring, Joanne enjoyed time with her grandchildren and traveling with her family until her health no longer allowed it. In 2019, she moved to Prairie Grove to live with her daughter Blair and her family due to health reasons. She was surrounded by family everyday thereafter.
If you knew Joanne, you knew that she was very traditional in her way of thinking and believed in always doing the right thing. She very much lived her life believing in the "to each their own" philosophy, and that it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. When her daughters were asked about recalling some of her favorite things in life, these are the things that they remembered: antiquing, the first signs of spring, the Beatles, clean sheets on her bed, her grandchildren, Christmas shopping, brunch, all Razorback sports, following the Rodeo circuit, cats, watching it snow, short afternoon naps, hot tea, old westerns, reading, and the concept of taking a "me" day.
Joanne was preceded in death by both of her parents, James McConnell and Hazel McConnell; four brothers, Mark McConnell, Roger McConnell, David McConnell, and Craig McConnell. She is survived by her daughters Meghan Berkshire (Kenny), Blair Green (Jeremiah); and five grandchildren, Ashlynn Garner (Taylor), Trey Clark, Grayson Berkshire, Molly Clark, and Eli Green.
Funeral Service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, March 1st, 2024, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.