Barbara J Cowart, 86, of Gainesville, died Sept. 5, 2021, at the Gainesville Health Care Center. A private family service will be held at a later date.
She was born April 10, 1935, at Squires, the daughter of Etcyl and Mildred Turner.  She graduated from Ava High School and worked for the Division of Family Services and Aging in Gainesville until her retirement.
On June 19, 1955, she married Wilber Cowart.
She loved her family and where Wilber was, Barbara was by his side.  She spent many hours waiting in the truck while he turkey hunted and read her book in the boat while he fished.  They traveled many old Ozark roadways enjoying the beauty of their hills and hollers.
She never missed her granddaughter's ballgames and enjoyed spending time with them and her great-grandsons. She liked to play games but was a ferocious player who liked to win. One of her favorite places to go was Roy's Store in Dora where she always wanted raisin pie.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Gainesville.
She is survived by her daughter, Mitzi Frye, and husband Cameron of Gainesville; three granddaughters, Ashley Hallmark of Pickens, South Carolina, Hannah Palmer and husband Josh of Thomasville, and Brittany Frye of West Plains; two great-grandsons, Logan and Hagan Palmer; two sisters, Loretta Burton of Peoria, Illinois and Arlene Walker of Squires.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilber, and two brothers, Wilbur and Gary Turner.

Arrangements by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Gainesville.