Rommie Joe Ashcraft

Rommie Joe Ashcraft, 85, of Jonesboro, died May 7, 2026 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born on February 4, 1941 and was of the Baptist faith.

A 1958 graduate of Weiner High School, Joe or RJ as some called him, went to work for Southwestern Bell in 1959 and retired from AT&T in 1999. He started out as a lineman climbing poles and had moved into a high tech switch room by the time he retired. He once said he would have never learned to play dominos if it hadn’t rained in those early years and they had to wait out the weather in the company truck.

Joe had many hobbies over the years, he loved wood-working, tennis, motorcycles and especially fishing. Most of all he and Jean loved to dance and they enjoyed many fun nights with friends at the Elks Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rommie and Maunee Taylor Ashcraft; sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Bill Nichols and niece Janice Lea Whaley. 

He is survived by his wife, Jean Stricklin Ashcraft; daughters, Beth Smith of Jonesboro and Laurie Jo Stowers of Little Rock. Grandchildren, Dr. Hunter Smith and his wife Kali of California; Dr. Ross Smith and his wife Lauren of Jonesboro and Shelby Stowers of Little Rock. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, Harrison, Colin and Graham Smith of California and Bingham, Boone and Brentlee Smith of Jonesboro. Additional survivors include a host of nieces and nephews as well as other family and friends.

Services will be at gravesite on Friday, May 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Oak Grove Cemetery in

Weiner with Pastor Tommy Jacobs officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Weiner Fire Department. 

An online guestbook is available at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.