Alva Review-Courier -

Barbara Jean Knox, daughter of Conrad and Cora (Spiser) Knox, was born on April 24, 1948, at Alva General Hospital in Alva, Oklahoma, and departed this life on March 3, 2024, at Springdale, Arkansas, at the age of 75 years, 10 months and 8 days.

Barbara grew up on the family farm north of Hopeton, Oklahoma. She attended Alva Public Schools and graduated with the Alva High School Goldbug Class of 1966.

She attended college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and the University of California – Riverside. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education with an emphasis in special education from Northwestern.

Her first teaching assignments were at public schools in the Alva area. She then traveled to the Navajo reservation where she taught school near Window Rock, Arizona. She loved the natural beauty of the reservation and working with Navajo children.

Her next teaching stop was at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, in the education department. She soon fell in love with the Ozark Mountains and her adopted Arkansas where she lived for over 50 years. Barbara purchased a farm north of Clarksville next to the Ozark National Forest where she had a small herd of cattle. When she was not teaching students or tending her cattle, she was outside enjoying the beauty of the Ozarks streams and mountains. She spent countless hours hiking trails in the area and traveling down streams and rivers. She was a prolific photographer and took thousands of pictures of the people and scenery of the Ozarks.

She soon missed working with special education students and returned to public schools in the Clarksville area. She was very active with Arkansas Special Olympics and always went out of her way to make sure her students could attend Special Olympic events. Barbara did not have children of her own but always considered her students her "children". Her love and attention were special in their own way and were positive influences for dozens of children.

Barbara is survived by her brother Steve and his wife Cheryl of Alva; Aunt Louisa Spiser of Ponca City, Oklahoma; special friends Kathy and Stu; many cousins and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Barbara's favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Barbara was cremated at her request. No public services are planned at this time.