Joe Boyd Fowlkes, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 26 as his son sang bluegrass songs to him. Born August 9, 1932 on the family farm in Pearson, Arkansas, he was the son of William Boyd and Georgia Hazelwood Fowlkes.

Joe graduated from Quitman High School in 1951. He and his brother, Wallace, moved to Detroit, Michigan where he worked in the automotive industry for a time. He served as a U.S. Army specialist 4th class in Kyoto, Japan where he worked as a tank mechanic. Joe graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College in 1958.

Joe married the love of his life, Betty Lancaster of Sheridan, on December 22, 1956. They raised two sons in Little Rock and later retired to Sheridan. Joe loved fishing, camping, hunting, and gardening. He and Bet spent many happy hours on Arkansas lakes. He also loved music, especially bluegrass and gospel. Joe taught himself to play guitar and mandolin, and he often played with his bluegrass buddies in Prattsville.

Joe and Betty once owned a corner grocery store, gas station, and bait shop in Pearson, but he spent most of his career at Teletype (AT&T) in Little Rock, retiring in 1989 after 23 years of service.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Wallace; sister Patsy (Clarence) Bowen; and his beloved wife Betty.

Joe is survived by two sons Brian (Donna) Fowlkes of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Bruce (Carolyn) Fowlkes of Eureka, Illinois; 4 grandchildren Nicole (Clayton) Ballreich of Pinckney, Michigan; Sarah (Michael) Sullivant of Alameda, California; Robert and John Fowlkes of Eureka; many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of very special in-laws.

Memorial services will be Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Sheridan, with burial to follow. Visitation will be Friday, May 9 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heifer International or the American Heart Association.