Joann Beechner

1944 - 2023

Joann Beechner, age 81, of Brookline Station passed away at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, 2023, at home. Joann was born the daughter of Earl and Pauline Murphy on June 25, 1941, in Polk. She was a member of Second Baptist Church in Springfield.
Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Pauline; brother Charles Murphy; mother- and father-in-law Paul and Evie Beechner; and sister-in-law Janet Ostrowski. She is survived by her husband Paul; daughter Jo; brother and sister-in-law Loren and Betsy Beechner; sister-in-law Deanne Murphy; nephew Charles Murphy Jr. and wife Dawn; niece Kaye Highfill; nephews Jamie Ostrowski, John Ostrowski and wife Kathleen, Jared Ostrowski and wife Jill; niece Jennifer Beechner Coker and husband Cole; niece Julie Beechner Rurak and husband Matt; 10 great-nieces and -nephews; 7 great-great-nieces and -nephews; and beloved dog Tidbit.
As a child at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord and was baptized in Pomme de Terre river. Today her faith is sight and is in the loving arms of Jesus.
After 42 years of service, Joann retired in 2005 from Hutchens Industries, Inc. as accounting office manager. When the weather cooperated during retirement, you could always find her outside. She enjoyed working in the yard, gardening, tending to her flowers, or sitting on the deck enjoying God's beautiful creation. She also completed numerous Precept Bible studies at her church. Once a month, she and Paul would volunteer with their Sunday School class serving dinner at Victory Mission including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Joann was a 2009 breast cancer survivor. Because of the great medical care she received from her Cox Health providers, she volunteered for several years in the radiation department at Hulston Cancer Center in Springfield. She also visited with others diagnosed with breast cancer and encouraged them during their treatment whenever possible.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home with Hospice Chaplain Michael Daughtrity and Dr. Jeremy Johnson officiating. Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. until the time of service. A private burial will be held at Crestview Memorial Gardens in Bolivar.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Cox Health Foundation f/b/o Hospice Fund or a non-profit of their choice.