Barbara Dell Meacham Jarvis

Barbara Dell Meacham Jarvis, aged 86, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 11th surrounded by her family. Born on January 4, 1937, in Monroe, Arkansas to the late Presley and Virginia (Hazelwood) Meacham, she was raised on the Meacham family farm, which was designated an Arkansas Century Farm in 2016. Known to her family as “Bobbie Dell”, Barbara was the youngest of six children. She was preceded in death by her siblings Cowan, Louise, Matthew, Kirby, and Wiley. She is survived by her sons Paul (Lisa) and Robert (Leslie), daughter Hallie Leicht (Josh), grandchildren Madeline and Amanda Leicht, and Conrad and Hugh Jarvis, as well as a large extended family.

After graduating from Clarendon High School, Barbara earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Spanish from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a PhD in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Barbara’s career as a Professor of Spanish began at the University of Texas, then moved in 1965 to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she was the first female professor in her department. In late 1965, her sister and her future mother-in-law set her up on a New Year’s Eve date with Fred D. Jarvis of North Little Rock, whom she married six months later in June of 1966. Fred and Barbara enjoyed a 38-year marriage marked by a compatibility of intellect, spirituality, philosophy, and humor that ended with Fred’s death in 2005.

Barbara was full of energy and could not tolerate being idle. An avid gardener, she spent long, hot, Arkansas summer days in the yard until the sun went down while her children swam in their backyard pool with friends. She loved to travel and read, enjoyed plays and musicals, was an enthusiastic walker and yoga and tai chi practitioner, and was active in her church community. In retirement, having never studied art, she became a talented artist, and was commissioned by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to paint native Arkansas plants in their fruit and flowering stages. They are displayed at Hobbs State Park in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Barbara was also an ardent environmentalist who focused on clean water and solar energy, telling her family and anyone who would listen that she wanted to leave the planet in better shape for her children and grandchildren. To that end, she founded the Eco Mark program at her church, which laid the foundation for the now thriving St. Mark’s Creation Care program. Barbara encouraged a love of the performing arts in her children and grandchildren and was thrilled at evidence of their musical and artistic talent. Weeks before her death, when asked what she wanted to be remembered for, she said “Being a good momma, enjoying my grandchildren, and doing good things for the environment”. She was, and she did. She is loved and will be missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of the life of Barbara Jarvis will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock on Friday, April 28, with memorial service at 2:00 and reception at 3:00.  In lieu of flowers, Barbara requested that donations be made to St. Mark’s (“Eco Care Fund” on memo line), Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light, Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.