Jamie Spargo Gibbs, age 58 of Sheridan, died Thursday evening, November 13, 2008, in Little Rock. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 27, 1949 to Johnnie Mae Walker Spargo and the late Stephen Fowler Spargo. Reared and educated in Arkadelphia, she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in biology. She taught school for many years. Jamie loved her students as much as her own family and reached out to all with friendship, love and deep affection. An avid horsewoman and riding champion, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan. She was the widow of Billy Gibbs, who preceded her in death on March 29, 2007.

As a young girl, she would spend her entire 50cent allowance on horseback riding lessons. Every Saturday was spent with her sister, Linda, riding and grooming horses, her love of which never wavered. At age 14 her father bought her a horse named Melinda saying, "Anyone who loves horses that much deserves to have one."

In her teens, Jamie discovered Western riding and competing in the high school rodeo circuit. This interest involved a series of horse trailers used to transport a growing variety of livestock used in barrel racing and goat roping. Thanks to the extraordinary sewing talents of her mother, Jamie always had a unique wardrobe. While Johnnie Mae made formal gowns for her other two daughters, Jamie's Western attire required a special inventiveness. Indeed, when Billy Gibbs first spied the lovely young Jamie, with her long black hair and clear blue eyes, she was wearing a hand-tailored silver lame Western outfit.

Her school years were marked by honors achieved at rodeos. She was a finalist in barrel racing at the National High School Rodeo Finals in 1967.

Jamie and Billy eloped to Oklahoma, and married on August 13, 1971, accepting her father's offer of $500 to spend either on a wedding or to invest in cows for their farm near Malvern. Billy was an accomplished roper, and both taught school to support their love of rodeo and livestock, thereby influencing generations of students.

After running a large farming and cattle operation for many years on the Antoine River near Delight, Jamie and Billy moved to Lost Creek Ranch near Sheridan in 1985. It was there that the most important addition to their livestock occurred with the much-anticipated birth of their only daughter, Johni Beth. Johni learned to ride before she could walk, and is now an expert horsewoman in her own right, and an excellent student who is presently attending nursing school.

Jamie, Billy ,and Johni Beth were active members of many Arkansas rodeo associations and were fixtures at events, particularly the Arkansas High School Rodeo Association. The entry fee for events was modest and the possibility of winning a saddle or buckle was great motivation. Billy once remarked about rodeo participation, "The $20 entry fee in no way prohibits a person from investing thousands of dollars in a horse to win it."

Jamie was a hero in the eyes of many, an inspiration to all who know her. She was a loving wife to Billy and a brilliant mother to Johni Beth. She will be remembered for her strength and courage in her 12-year battle against breast cancer. Jamie always took her illness in stride, never letting it slow her down or keep her from doing what she wanted to do.

She was an accomplished self-taught artist and was able to capture the energy, power, and artistry of horses and riders. Jamie promised to each of Johni's high school rodeo classmates a drawing of them engaged in their favorite rodeo event, many receiving a portrait of themselves signed by jamie gibbs'.

She is survived by her daughter, Johni Beth Gibbs and her boyfriend, Jeremy Teague of Sheridan, her mother, Johnnie Mae Spargo of Arkadelphia, her siblings, Byron Spargo of Baton Rouge, Dr. Linda Spargo of Oxford, Mississippi, and Nancy Spargo DeLamar of Little Rock, her beloved in-laws, Charles and Elaine Gibbs of Malvern, as well as her nieces Megan Schroeder, Hattie Alton, Leslie Spargo, Gwendy Clingman, and nephew Johnny Gibbs; three great-nieces and one great-nephew.

She was also preceded in death by her father, Stephen Fowler Spargo.

A memorial service will be held at ten o'clock Monday morning, November 17, 2008 in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Malvern with the Reverends Bruce Bennett and Stephen Wingo officiating, and under the direction of J. A. Funk Funeral Home.

A reception will follow in the fellowship hall of the church.

All those who touched Jamie's life are designated by her family as honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Billy and Jamie Gibbs Scholarship Fund, 214 Kerry Drive, Crossett, AR 71635.

Special thanks to Dr. Jack Sternberg who helped Jamie sustain a quality of life for more than a decade, to Dr. Robert Muldoon and his staff, who provided excellent care for Billy until his death and then for Jamie, to Arkansas Hospice for thief unwavering and compassionate care, allowing Jamie to remain home as long as possible and for seeing to her dignity and comfort, and to the Jefferson County Senior Citizen center for providing meals and help on a daily basis. Jamie said "Angels just walk in my door to help". Online condolences may be sent via J.A.Funk Funeral Home.