Irma Jo Mccall

Irma Jo McCall, 94, of Jonesboro, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center.

She was born in 1924 in Evening Shade, but lived most of her life in Jonesboro. A retired Registered Nurse, she was a 1946 graduate of St. Bernard’s Hospital Nursing School. After graduation she worked for a short time at St. Bernard’s, then spent several years as a nurse for the E.C. Barton family in Jonesboro. She spent most of her career as a nurse at the General Electric plant in Jonesboro. She was one of the first employees when the plant opened in 1954. When she began working at GE there were only 30 employees at the local facility and while there she saw the work force grow to more than a thousand at one time. She retired in 1985 after more than 30 years.

She was a longtime member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, where she was active for many years in leadership positions including serving on the administrative board and was a member in the Pleasant Grove Home Extension Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James (Mert) McCall. The youngest of a large rural family in Sharp County, she also was preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters.

She is survived by two sons, Jim McCall (Randi) of Little Rock, Tom McCall (Dianne) of Frisco, TX; a sister, Ethel Meeker of Ardmore, TN.

Survivors also include five grandchildren, Tim McCall (Christi) of Jonesboro, Jason McCall (Amanda) of Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Niki Hunt (Jon) of Granbury, TX, Collin Callaway of Little Rock and Andrew Buckner (Alicia) of Lake Worth, FL. In addition she is survived by nine great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, July 19, 2019 at Emerson Funeral Home, 1629 East Nettleton. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Jonesboro Memorial Park with Reverend Rex Darling officiating and Jason McCall serving as the Eulogist. Honorary pallbearers will include: Brian Smith, Russ Hannah, Rob McCall, Jim Bob Jordan, Jon Hunt, Frank Lee, Jim Cooper, and Gene Wing.

The family would like to thank the compassionate staff and her neighbors at St. Bernard’s Village, where she lived for the past five years and a special thanks to two wonderful nieces, Carol Jordan and Becky Wrinkles who helped care for Irma Jo during her illness.

For lasting memorials the family asks that consideration be given to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2201 S. Culberhouse, Jonesboro, AR 72401