Barbara Jean Looney

Barbara Jean Looney, 82, of Little Rock, formerly of Heber Springs and Oil Trough, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. "Barb" or "Bobbie" as she was known to most was born in Oil Trough, Ark., on December 29, 1939, to William Albert and Myrtle Brownlow (nee Akins). She graduated high school at Oil Trough in 1958 and worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, an orthodontist assistant, and as a switchboard operator at White River Medical Center in Batesville. The most important thing to Barb in this world was her family whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed any activity where she could be outside enjoying warm sunshine and visiting with her friends and family. She will be missed by many, especially her breakfast table crew at Andover Place where her proclamation of disdain for gravy of any sort and profession of love for strawberry jelly could be heard each morning. Barb is survived by one son, Randal (RJ) Looney and his wife Kay Briscoe; three grandchildren; Brandon Looney (Molly), Zachary Looney, and Kaitlyn Looney, two great-grandchildren; Dante Sky Looney and Emerald Iris Looney; a sister, Mary Robbins who loved her dearly and looked after her all her life; and a great friend, Liz Parker. She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Russell, Allen, Charles, Samuel, and Edward, and three sisters, Hazel, Evelyn, and Ruth. The family offers their sincere gratitude to the staff of Andover Place and Independent Seniors of Arkansas for helping to make the past two years of her life stress-free and pleasant. Thanks also to the nursing staff at CHI St. Vincent Neuroscience Institute ICU and Hospice Home Care of Little Rock. A funeral service will be held at Jackson's Funeral Home in Newport, Ark., on Thursday, March 3, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Maple Springs Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Tribute of Life Foundation, Hospice Home Care, 2200 South Bowman Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72211. Arrangements by Jackson's Newport Funeral Home. www.jacksonsfh.com