Janetta Fern Beasley, 82

Funeral services for Janetta Fern Beasley, 82, of Gainesville, were held Oct. 10, 2022, in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home chapel in Gainesville, with Dale Roberts officiating. Burial was at the Sims Cemetery. 

Fern died Oct. 6. She was born on Feb. 2, 1940, the youngest of eight born to Thomas Arthur Miller and Ollie Ray (Pitchford) Miller, of Gainesville. 

Fern was raised on Pine Creek in the Luna area. 

At a music party, she met James Beasley. They were married on Oct. 8, 1955. They had two sons, Jim, and Jerry.

In 1966, the family moved to the Beasley family farm where they ran a dairy farm. The family later transitioned from dairy to beef cattle. 

Fern was very proud of her time spent as an EMT with the Ozark County Ambulance and as a CNA and LPN with Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Fern retired from BRMC after 15 years of service to care for her husband. 

Fern enjoyed playing bluegrass and gospel music. She was a songwriter who played the guitar, fiddle and piano. She and James traveled around Ozark County and surrounding area playing bluegrass and gospel music with their small group, Happy Hills Bluegrass. They played at church, at Gainesville Health Care Center, Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association (HOBA), Wagon Wheel and jam sessions at friends’ and family members’ homes and other sites. 

Fern loved her family and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Being called Granny Fern was one of her greatest joys. 

At the age of 64, she started riding horses again so she could spend the afternoons riding with her granddaughter. She loved her animals, which over the years included dogs, cats, ducks, geese, horses, donkeys and chickens. Being at Granny Fern’s was always an adventure. 

Fern is survived by her children, Jim Wayne and wife Jan of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and Jerry Lee and wife Sherri of Gainesville; her grandchildren: Jason Pool and wife Melissa, Jarred Pool and wife Jackie and Haley Beasley; her great-grandchildren: Reagan Pool, Tanner Pool, Paxton Pool, Brayden Beasley and Zariel Ferrell. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband James; and seven siblings: Velta Hambelton, Violet Morrison, Nova Bryan, Lura Hambelton, Junior “Art” Miller, Fred Miller and Jake Miller. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Sims Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.