Juanita Louise Jarrett

Columbus, KS: Juanita Louise Jarrett, age 91 of Columbus, passed away at 4:20 AM on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

Juanita Louise (Hale) Jarrett was born May 23, 1929 to Lonzo and Edith (Evans) Hale in rural Columbus, KS. She attended various Cherokee County schools and graduated from CCCHS in 1947. Shortly after graduation, she accepted a teaching contract with the Kansas Department of Education beginning September 1st, 1947. As part of that contract she attended summer programs at the Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, KS working toward full certification. As will often happen when one has a perfect plan for life, Juanita’s education was cut short when a young Calvin Clifford Jarrett caught her interest. Despite the fact that her father, Lonzo Hale’s dog tore Calvin’s pants when he came to pick her up. Calvin was not deterred, and he would continue to come by the Hale place often. They had several interesting dates including trips to the spook light and boxing matches before they married on April 25, 1952 in the home they built together. They lived together there until Calvin passed away February 26, 1993. Juanita continued to live on that land until the spring of 1998 when she moved to Columbus.

Juanita was beautiful on the outside and the inside. She was a petite woman who took great care in her personal appearance and she was an accomplished housewife who could sew, crochet, paint, knit, and cook a mean Sunday dinner. Despite the fact that she kept her home immaculate, the inside of the home was not big enough to keep Juanita busy. She kept a large vegetable garden and her flower gardens were absolutely beautiful.

Juanita was not just a farmer’s wife, she was a farmer. In the words of her grandson, Clifton, she was a “manly woman.” She drilled oats, hauled grain, worked ground, fed livestock, and still managed to pack a lunch for the group. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember many days tagging along with her in grain trucks where they had picnic lunches in the shade of the truck.

Juanita found friends in every corner of her life, from farming to bowling leagues, to painting class. She was the caretaker of everyone. Perhaps the most important legacy Juanita leaves to us is her love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where she served as bookkeeper, decorator, pianist, keeper of the kitchen, and was always ready to do more than her share of the work.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Calvin, three brothers, Alfred, Gordon and Gary Hale, two sisters, Alice Houser and Lorna Barrett and a son-in-law Delmar Tincknell. Survivors are one sister, Jane Alumbaugh, and one brother, Bill Hale. Also surviving are her sons, Herb (and Gayla) Jarrett, Steve (and Janie) Jarrett, and a daughter, Edyth Tincknell. Juanita also leaves six grandchildren Justin & Megan, Clarissa and Shawn, Cassie and Jason, Bekah and Anthony, Holly and Chris and Clifton and Addison; eleven great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins and a few strays we claim as family.

In the final days of her life, Juanita did not remember us, but her friends continued to write letters and pray for her. One of those letters from our beloved Joyce sums up exactly how we feel today. Joyce was reminiscing about the days when the women would pass each other on the highway in grain trucks. She said, “I would like to meet you on the highway one more time, but instead, I will meet you on the streets in Heaven. Won’t that be wonderful?”

A funeral service will be held at Derfelt Funeral Home of Columbus at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 9, 2021 with Ty Rose officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, rural Columbus. Pallbearers serving will be Tim Barrett, Corey Hale, Hal Hale, Ralph Houser, Jason Cleaver, and Shawn Davis.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, April 8, 2021 from 6-7:00 PM at Derfelt Funeral Home of Columbus. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

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