Billie Jo Gabriel Starr's Obituary
Billie Jo Gabriel Starr, 90, of Fayetteville passed away Sunday, April 9, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 11, 1932 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Arthur and Wilma Gabriel. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Joe Fred Starr.
She has been a devoted member of Central United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, where she served for many years on the Board of Trustees and as chairman of the building committee. She is a graduate of Fayetteville High School and the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. After raising her four children with Joe Fred, Billie was very active in community organizations. She was regional fundraising chair for the Walton Arts Center, joining forces with Helen R. Walton to secure funding to complete the performing and visual arts center.
Her endeavors include serving as executive director of the North Arkansas Symphony and chairman of the board of the Walton Arts Center. She also served on the board of the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation and was one of the first inductees to its Hall of Honor.
She was the recipient of many honors, including the Arkansas Arts Council Governor’s Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019; Outstanding UA Alumni for Community Service in 1994; Community Service Award from the City of Fayetteville; Arkansas Business Top 100 Women in Arkansas in 1996 and many other awards.
She has been president of the Starr Foundation, a family foundation dedicated to enriching education and the arts in Arkansas for more than 30 years.
She is survived by four children, Joe F. Starr, Jr. and wife, René Vandenberg Starr of Little Rock; David Starr and wife, Cindy, of Cedaredge, Colorado; Kent Starr and wife, Sara, of Fayetteville; and Shannon Starr Arcana and husband, Michael, of Fayetteville. Her grandchildren: John Gabriel Starr of Bozeman, Montana and Kathryn Grace Starr of Little Rock; Rachel Starr Sloan and husband, Neill of Fayetteville; Kara Arcana, David Arcana, Christina Arcana Geurin and husband, Jacob, and Christopher Arcana, all of Fayetteville.
Great-grandchildren: David Carter Sloan, Lincoln Sloan, Gabriel Sloan, Faith Arcana, Troy Arcana, Kyleigh Jo Geurin, Emma Kay Geurin, Anson Geurin and Mattie Gabriel Geurin, all of Fayetteville. Close family friends: Dr. Jonathan and Plum Simons of Atlanta, Georgia and caregiver Marieta Pilka of Lowell.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at Moore’s Chapel, 206 Center Street, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be Thursday, April 13, 2023 at Central United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., with burial to follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens. Memorial gifts may be made to the Walton Arts Center, P.O. Box 3547, Fayetteville, AR 72701. To place an online tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.
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