JoAnn Derden, age 72, of Ward, went to be with her Lord at her home Sunday, January 2, 2022. She was born January 4, 1949 in Fukuoka, Japan to the late Cecil and Lois Marie (Harris) Cooper. The middle child of an Army family, JoAnn was raised in Japan, Newfoundland, and Virginia before the family settled in rural Jacksonville, Arkansas where she graduated from Sylvan Hills High School. She was a Baptist and a longtime florist. In addition to being an award-winning floral designer, JoAnn was also an excellent cook. Future family gatherings will be poorer with the absence of her potato salad or her enchiladas. She was also an avid collector of antiques and the stories that went with each treasured find.  Although a true southern belle in all the best senses of the phrase, she also harbored a secret love for Pittsburgh Penguins hockey.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Earl Derden; sister, Nita J. Peterson and beloved mother-in-law, Rachel C. Pope.

JoAnn is survived by her son, James Earl Derden; sister, Patricia Diane King (Ken); aunt, Lena Goff of Saginaw, Texas; nieces, Bethany MacDonald and Ginny Chaney (Michael); nephews, Brent MacDonald and Chris King (Michelle); great- nieces, Brianna Nunez, Madison Patterson, Mia Nunez, Emma Chaney and Edith Chaney; great-nephews George Nunez, Raymond Nunez, Elliot Chaney, Aidan King, Ethan King and beloved friends, Mindy Sample, Ann Humpula and Pam Gillis. The list could go on and on as JoAnn seldom met a stranger and to know her was to be welcomed into her ever expanding family.

Funeral services for JoAnn will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 11, 2022 in the chapel of Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.  Inurnment will be at a later date.  Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home.