Julia "Judy" Jean Calhoun

Julia (Judy) Jean Janes Calhoun passed away on July 25, 2026. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Hall. Judy and Hall were married 58.5 years before Hall died in April of 2025. Survivors include daughters, Lynn (Barbara) Calhoun of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and Leeann (Mickey) Mobley of Oppelo; a niece, Ella (Jason) Long of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; grandsons, Evan and Will Mobley; and great-nieces, Lucy and Katie Long. Judy was born in Morrilton, Arkansas to Nina Gene Henry Janes and Clarence Cecil Janes on July 18th, 1944. She grew up in Atkins where she was adored by her family. After her mother’s death in 1952, she went to live with her great aunt and uncle. A part of Judy’s lasting legacy was the State Supreme Court case, Henry v. Janes (1953). This case involved the custody dispute between Judy’s great aunt and uncle, Annie Jane and Wade Henry and her father, Cecil Janes. The ruling in the case giving custody of Judy to her great aunt and uncle established that parental rights are not paramount when a child’s welfare is at risk. The judges in the case took Mom’s wishes into consideration for their ruling overruling her father’s wishes. Subsequent case rulings in Arkansas have used Henry v. Janes as precedent to place children in their safest and most preferred homes. Even as a young child, Judy had a big impact on the world for good. After her great aunt passed away, Judy went to live with her mother’s sister, Betty Sue Henry Looney, who had married and lived in Morrilton. Judy was happy to live with her Aunt Betty, but sad at the time to go from an Atkins Red Devil to being a Devil Dog! Judy played the clarinet in the band and was named an Ayer Beauty in high school. She attended college at Arkansas State Teachers College and graduated in three and a half years with a Bachelor of Science in Education. For her first education job, she went to work in Little Rock teaching elementary school at Hardin Bale Elementary. She lived in the big city with a roommate until she married Hall Calhoun, III and moved to Morrilton. They lived in Hall’s family home on Moose Street until they could build their own home in Oppelo on the family farm. Judy taught at Reynolds school until she had their first daughter, Lynn. It was then that she began her epic career as a mother, taking wonderful care of Lynn and later Leeann. She started a preschool at First Presbyterian Church, then was instrumental in starting the first public Kindergarten. She was homeroom mother for both girls through elementary school and all the students were happy to be in Lynn or Leeann’s class to get to enjoy Miss Judy’s sugar cookies! She decided to go back to the classroom when Leeann was in the sixth grade, teaching at East Side Elementary in Menifee for many years. Judy worked in education for over 32 years during which she completed a Master of Education in Reading at the University of Central Arkansas and later, certification in school counseling. She also held a Lifetime Teaching License. Judy was first a classroom teacher, then a reading specialist and then an elementary school counselor for 20 years. In 1975, she spearheaded the start of the first public kindergarten in Morrilton. She thought all children should get to attend Kindergarten and worked with then superintendent Olan Ray Fullerton to make it happen. As her older daughter Lynn went on to elementary school at Reynolds, she started the annual talent show as a fundraiser for the PTA. That talent show continued for many years. As a member of First Presbyterian Church in Morrilton, she was an ordained Deacon and Elder, choir member, and Sunday School teacher. She was the moderator of the Presbyterian Women and Circle Chairman for many years Judy was a member of the local Church Women United, Past Secretary and Chaplain of the General William Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Additionally, she previously served as Vice President of Literary Coterie, member of the Pathfinder Club, Board Member and Tutor for the local Literacy Council, member of the Conway County Retired Teachers and Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary teachers’ organization), past 2nd Vice President and Past President. When her daughters were younger, Judy was a Girl Scout Troop leader for several years. She was also Outdoor Trainer and Board Member of the Ouachita Girl Scout Council. She served as President, Talent Show and Fun Fair Chairman of the Reynolds School Parent Teacher Association and Vice President of the East Side PTA. She was also a member of the Morrilton Jaycettes. Her honors include SCCSD Hall of Distinction, Class of 2025; Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year 2013; SCCSD Teacher of the Year, 2001-02; Elementary Counselor of the Year for the Central Region of the Arkansas School Counselor Association in 2006; selected as a Key Woman in her church for the local Church Women United; Honorary Life Member of the Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Church (USA); a member of the Ouachita Girl Scout Council Hall of Fame; Morrilton Jaycettes’ Woman of the Year for 1981; Honorary Life Member of the PTA at Reynolds School and the Steve Wilbanks Community Service Award in 2012. There were countless young people Judy influenced as their homeroom mother (with the sugar cookies for every holiday), Girl Scout Leader (with many trips to Petit Jean), and/or as their teacher and counselor. May we all be so fortunate to have such a light in our lives. Judy will be missed beyond measure. The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church, Morrilton, with Dr. Peg Falls-Corbitt officiating. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the Harris Chapel. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Michael Chappie, John Trafford, Steve Trafford, Phillip Lentz, John Maus, Scott Polk, and Chase Taylor. Honorary Pallbearer will be Raymond Zimmerman. The family would like to thank the staff at Ridgemere Senior Living and Perry County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Morrilton (105 W Church St, Morrilton, AR 72110) or Alzheimer’s Arkansas.

Julia "Judy" Jean Calhoun

July 18, 1944 - July 25, 2026