of Baker, AR

September 28, 1937 - December 20, 2025

James Joel Ratchford, devoted husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, passed away at his home in Baker, Arkansas on Saturday, December 20th, 2025 at the age of 88. On September 28th, 1937, Joel was born at home into the loving household of parents, Carl and Madge Horton Ratchford, sister, Carlene and brother, David. Siblings, Nancy, Bob and Kenny followed.
Joel was a lifelong resident of Baker; and his early years in the community mingling with a large extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins instilled a strong capacity for love of family and hard work that abided throughout his life.

Joel and his wife, Margie Mahan Ratchford were parents to three beautiful daughters: Janie, Tammy and Jill. They were deeply devoted to their daughters, and as their daughters' families grew, to their children and grandchildren.

In his early years, Joel's trade was logging and sawmilling in his Dad's business. In 1959, Joel started a career that spanned over fifty-five years as a homebuilder, well known for fast and unexcelled craftsmanship and a strong work ethic. During harvesting time in the South, Joel took a break from building houses to join his brother-in-law, Jerry Highfill, to own and operate cotton picking machines. They followed the picking seasons in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. After his carpenter career ended in 2012, Joel became a dedicated cattleman. He pastured his small herd in Searcy County and Boone County at his children's farms outside of Harrison. True to his devotion to his work at hand and keen focus, he made many roundtrips (about eighty-five miles each) from his Baker home to Harrison the last several years to tend to the needs of his herd, until the day or two before his death. Joel was never found idle. He didn't sit well. He was always working at something. He was once heard saying, ''I will work until the day I die''…..and he did. He could be found working through dark times and light times, through times of serious illness and times of severe physical injuries and impairments. All encounters with family, friends, and even strangers were met with broad smiles and kind words. Joel was a Christian man, a Christ follower.

Joel is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Madge Ratchford; his wife Margie; grandson, Bazze Sewell; siblings, Carlene Gilliland and David Ratchford.

Survivors include his daughters, Janie Horton, Tammy Tennyson (Chuck), and Jill Bressler; grandchildren, Kristen Hickman (Jay), Emily Horton, Jared Horton (Kimberly), Dylan Milsap and Jack Bressler; great-grandchildren, Bazze Hickman, Liz Hickman and Marshall Horton; siblings, Nancy Moore, Bob Ratchford (Kaye) and Kenny Ratchford (Beth); sister-in-law, Martha Highfill; brother-in-law, Larry Mahan (Jeannie); and numerous Ratchford, Moore, Highfill and Mahan nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Joel will be 2:00 PM Friday, December 26th, 2025 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. James Horton, and Bob Ratchford officiating. Visitation will be 1:00 till 2:00 PM preceding the service. Interment will be in Marshall Memorial Gardens where Joel will be laid to rest beside his wife Margie who passed away in 2009.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
923 Highway 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com