Graveside Services for Jo Ann McKean, Age 85 of Sharp County, Arkansas will be held on Friday, November 20th, 2026 in The Baker Community Cemetery, Hardy, Arkansas, beginning at 11:00 AM.
Arrangements under the direction of The Tri-County Funeral Home, Highland, Memorial Donations can be made in Jo’s honor at Carpenter Place or Simple House Ministry in care of RiverWalk Church of Christ.
Jo Ann (Stark) McKean, Mary Kay National Sales Director Emeritus, was called home to Heaven on November 9, 2026. Jo was born on April 7, 1941 to Calvin & Othelia “Tillie” (Rogers) Stark in Sharp County, AR. She was the cherished older sister to two brothers, Roger Calvin and Terry Lee. Jo and her brothers were especially close to their cousins – Barbara, Aleta, Hal, John, Sandy, Wayne, Harry, and Jenny – spending much time together to the delight of Calvin and Tillie and Tillie’s three sisters and their husbands. This legacy of love from the Rogers girls has been a lifelong blessing to our family.
Jo was an accomplished basketball player, a Dairy Princess, and a hard worker. As the oldest child, she developed skills as a caregiver, teacher, and mentor which she used throughout her life. She attended Freed Hardeman College where she met the love of her life, Larry “Mac” McKean. Jo and Mac were married nearly sixty-four years until his death in 2025. Jo was a wonderful Mom to her children, a beloved Nana to her grandchildren, and an adored Nana Great to her great-grandchildren.
Jo and Mac were active members at RiverWalk/Central Church of Christ for many decades after moving to Wichita in the 1960s to become house parents at Maude Carpenter Children’s Home. Jo was a Bible class teacher, friend, and mentor to many and a great example of Christian hospitality. After fifty years in the Wichita/Derby area, they retired to Arkansas and faithfully supported the Hardy Church of Christ, where they had married in 1961. Facing many health issues, in 2019 they returned to Wichita and were welcomed back by their family at RiverWalk.
Jo developed many close friends through her career in Mary Kay. She was a respected leader and valued teacher, speaker, mentor, and friend. Her success in Mary Kay allowed Jo and Mac to travel all over the world to see much of God’s beautiful creation. Their travels often involved visiting botanical gardens and enjoying new cuisine, as Jo loved to garden and was an excellent cook.
Jo was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Larry; her parents, Calvin and Tillie Stark; sister-in-law, Lynne Stark; and cousin, Aleta Nelson. Also preceding her were Larry’s parents, Purdy and Gladys McKean; brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Diane McKean; brother-in-law, Don Diehl; and niece, Traci McKean.
Surviving to cherish Jo’s memory are her daughter, Tammy (Ron) Boss; son, Byron (Janice) McKean; grandchildren: Tyler (Nicole) Boss, Ryan (Jenna) Boss, Emma (Alex) Williams, Cara (Douglas) Hurst, and Grant McKean; great-grandchildren: Calvin, Mac, Mason, Griffin, Barrett, Cade, Tillie, and Lilly Jo; her brothers, Roger (Brenda) Stark and Terry Stark; Larry’s brother, Clair (Jara) McKean and sister, Janet Diehl; and many treasured nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
