Pearl Counts

Pearl Counts, age 84, of Joplin, MO, formerly Glenwood, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2025.

She was born on September 27, 1940. She was the daughter of Floyd Fraze and Blanch Cozine Fraze Barrow. She is preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters, Wanda Jones, Mary Geist, and Frances Barker; her brother, Kenneth Barrow; and her husband, James Will Counts.

Pearl married the love of her life, James Will Counts in 1957. She was Christian in her faith. During Pearls working years she was a franchise owner of Circle K Food Store in Orosi, CA. She worked over 30 years in various convenience food stores throughout her career including: Circle K, Cracker Box, and Dollar General. During this time she earned her GED while raising her children. Pearl never met a stranger, and she had an easy and happy nature about her which attracted people to her. Each person who met and knew Pearl loved her and only a select few became like family to her (April, Mary, and Debbie).

Pearl’s young heart called her to be a teacher, but God called her to be a sailor’s wife, and to be a mother of three successful children. Her good and Godly example raised three college educated, strong, and successful children. Jim, a retired Naval Officer, is using his healthcare background and degree to analyze multi-million dollar contracts for UAMS as the Manager for Clinical Contracts; Kathy retired from being a Chief Finance Officer and adjunct Professor at California State University, Bakersfield; Melissa is a teacher in Joplin, Mo, putting her degree to great use teaching those most in need in K-12. God graced Pearl with successful children while she worked hard to instill in us our own desire to learn and give back to others.

Pearl loved being married to James. As a sailor’s life, Pearl had to learn many new skills life offered her, and how to readily adjust to change. Pearl viewed changes in life as “Another Set of Orders”. Pearl has a new set of orders now–she is with her heavenly Father and family. Life, well, it is just Another Set of Orders, and her final orders are to be with Dad and her heavenly Father.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James F. and Karen Counts of Caddo Gap; her two daughters and son-in-law, Kathleen and Benjamin Hylton of Glendale, AZ, and Melissa Kendall of Joplin, MO; her grandchildren, Brandon Counts of Seattle, WA, Kara Jade (Sy) Hill, of Caddo Gap, Samantha Ives-Hernandez (Stephen Hernandez) of Bakersfield, CA, Ian Ives of Hermiston, OR,  Hailey (Dante) Johnson of Fort Worth, Tx, and Hayden Kendall of Joplin, Mo; her great-grandchildren, Ashton, Madden, Wyatt, and Matthew; her brother and sister-in-law, Beau and Irene Barrow of Hollister, MO; her three sisters and brother-in-law, Patricia and Steve Mills of Galena, MO, Nelda Gremminger of Hemet, CA, and Linda Goodwin of Galena, MO; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and a host of wonderful friends.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Nelson Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Counts, Hayden Kendall, Dante Johnson, Jerry Chrisman, Keith Counts, and Jordan McKellar.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Ian Ives, Ashton, Madden, and Wyatt Hill.