Jo Anne Wade, age 72, died on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 in Springdale, Arkansas. She was born on August 25, 1950 in Springdale, Arkansas to Curtis Dean and Betty Jo (Whittle) Counts.  On November 4, 2011 she married Edward Wade in Springdale, Arkansas.

Jo Anne was one of the easiest people to love, mainly due to how she loved others. Her love was special because it pointed back to the love of the Father. She knew her Savior and she loved to worship Him. Her smile lit up the room, and her spirit was always bright. Jo Anne fiercely loved her family. She was the best wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She enjoyed going to church and singing praises to our Lord.

Jo Anne's children, grandchildren and great-grandchild were the light of her world. She went above and beyond, creating Jo Jo camp every year for her grandchildren. She went all out for the holidays, cooking favorite dishes and coordinating special activities for everyone. Jojo passed down her love of singing and worshiping the Lord. Jo Anne spent most of her working life in quality control at Allen Canning Company. During her free time, she enjoyed camping out in God's creation and taking trips to Branson with her family. Jo Anne loved snow and would often call everyone on the phone out of excitement. Jo Anne loved to go the extra mile, giving generously and loving without bounds. To know her, was to love her. She was preceded in death by her father; son, James Allen Barron; brother, Larry Dean Counts.

She is survived by her husband, Edward Wade; mother, Betty Jo Counts; three sons, Jeffrey Wayne Barron of Lowell, Arkansas, John Dean and Marion David Barron of Rogers, Arkansas; daughter, Janet Kay and her husband, Chris Dills of Alton, Missouri; two sisters, Barbara Jean and her husband, Dennis Harmon of Bentonville, Arkansas, Karen Kay and her husband, Daniel Morrison of Farmington, Arkansas; two grandchildren, Blake (Alyssa) Barron, Katelyn (Micah) Smith; one great granddaughter, Charlotte Jo Anne Smith; 7 bonus children; 12 bonus grandchildren; 17 bonus great grandchildren; 6 bonus great great grandchildren with a host of extended family.

Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2023 at Heritage Funeral Home . Funeral services  will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2 at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Loy Counts officiating. Interment will follow at Colbaugh Cemetery in Hindsville, Arkansas.