Joann Shiow-Jiuann Leou

Joann Jang Shiow-Jiuann Leou of Little Rock, Arkansas, was born on January 20, 1939, in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. She had loving parents and was the eldest child of a very large family. She had six sisters and one brother and the sisters were often referred to as the “Seven Fairies” by relatives and friends. Joann was a great sister who loved and supported her younger siblings. She was a good student and attended college to become a teacher. She never completed her college education, however, due to a personal illness and a desire to help her parents care for her younger siblings. As an industrious young lady, she gained accounting experience while working to help financially support her family.

Joann met her husband, Frank Ju-Fa Leou, while visiting an old school friend. Her friend's older brother was one of Frank's very best friends. Joann and Frank's friendship blossomed into romance, and they eventually married on Christmas Day in 1961. After the wedding, Joann worked to help support her growing family. The loving couple was blessed with three children: Norman, Nora, and Peter. Joann's sisters and Frank's brothers came to stay with them in Taipei, Taiwan, in order to pursue their own educational goals and to help with the three children. Joann and Frank always felt a sense of responsibility toward their younger siblings and welcomed their siblings into their young family.

Joann never thought she would become an American citizen through naturalization while growing up in Taiwan. In the early 1970's, however, she came to America with her three children to join Frank. He came one year earlier to further his medical training after his retirement from the National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan. Joann and Frank had planned to stay in America for three years and then return to Taiwan. They later decided to stay in America for better educational and professional opportunities for their children. They were very happy when their children eventually became a dentist and physicians. In the mid 1970's, they moved their family to Little Rock, Arkansas, and opened an Obstetric and Gynecology medical clinic. Joann helped to manage the medical clinic and was primarily responsible for medical billing and coding for the medical practice. Later, Joann also learned to manage Imperial Garden, a Chinese restaurant, which the couple co-owned with friends. She would manage the medical office during the days and the Chinese restaurant in the evenings and on weekends.

Joann had many interests throughout her life. She was an extremely crafty person and loved learning new skills. In Taiwan, she took classes in flower arrangement, embroidering, baking, etc. She enjoyed sewing and made clothing for her sisters and brother when they were children. She later made many clothing for her own family when they first immigrated to America. Joann was a fantastic cook. She appreciated sampling new cuisine and reading cookbooks. She loved to recreate tasty dishes for her family and friends. She read books on health and fitness and incorporated new worthwhile concepts into her cooking and her family life. After their retirement, Joann and Frank were blessed with many opportunities to see the world. They loved to travel and took numerous cruises with friends. With the help of good friends, they were able to travel all over the world including Antarctica. Finally, Joann loved to sing Taiwanese songs from the 1960's and 1970's and folk songs she learned growing up in Taiwan. She taught her grandchildren some of her favorite folk songs. In later years, she would often entertain Frank and herself with these old Taiwanese songs.

At the age of 82, Joann left this world on Saturday, April 3, 2021. She had fallen in mid February 2021, and had never truly recovered from this incident. She passed away at home and was surrounded by her loving family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, a brother-in-law, and her husband of 59 years, Frank Ju-Fa Leou.

Left to cherish her memories include her sons, Norman (Amy) Leou of Bellevue, Washington, and Peter (Angela) Leou of Huntington Beach, California; daughter, Nora (Tyrone) Lee of Conway, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Catherine Lee, Hannah Leou, Nicholas Lee, Marie Leou, Rachel Leou, Stephen Leou, and Alexandra Lee. She is also survived by all her sisters, brothers-in-law, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 10 a.m. at Griffin Leggett Funeral Home in Conway, Arkansas.

For the live stream link of the memorial service, please visit www.griffinleggettconway.com.

As with standard Covid-19 practices, face coverings must be worn and social distancing will be observed for those wishing to attend Joann's service.