of Yellville, AR
July 1, 1935 - April 16, 2025
Jimmy Joe Sasser was born to Arthur and Geneva Sasser of Bruno, Arkansas, on July 1, 1935. He was the sixth of nine siblings. Jimmy Joe left this world on April 16, 2025, just months away from his ninetieth birthday. He would tell you he lived a long and blessed life, and he loved his God and his family above all. This was evident to all who knew him.
Jimmy Joe began his career at Bruno Schools as a teacher in 1955. He loved teaching fifth and sixth graders before serving as principal, spending his entire career at the same school. He enjoyed being outdoors, whether hunting with his dogs or fishing for perch at the creek bank, but his passion was music. After retiring, Jimmy Joe loved performing music with his group Joe Sasser and Friends.
Joe Sasser and Friends performed gospel and bluegrass music throughout northern Arkansas and beyond for almost thirty years. Joe loved singing at weddings or funerals and rarely refused any request to be a part of an occasion.
Joe is remembered by loved ones as a master storyteller. His entertaining stories of growing up and living in Marion County are celebrated by all who knew him. He loved his church family at First Baptist Church in Yellville, and enjoyed teaching Sunday School for many years, teaching his last lesson just two weeks before his death.
Joe married Gaynell (formerly Mitchell-Case) in July of 1990, and celebrated calling her daughters his own. His beloved Gaynell preceded Joe in death in September of 2020.
Jimmy Joe Sasser is also preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings: Rua Baker, Clarice (Cobby) McNair, Velva (Sook) Rice, J I (Jay) Sasser, Arlis (Whitey) Sasser, and Billie Marie Hill.
He is survived by his sister Layne Milligan and his brother Mac Arthur Sasser, his daughters Lanita Ladd (Cliff) of Lubbock, TX and Laura Davidson (Mike) of Fort Smith, AR, three grandchildren, four great grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter, and a host of loved nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be Tuesday, April 22 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Yellville with Bro. Cary Kinnaird and Bro. Rick Pyron officiating. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM. Pallbearers will be his grandson Kyle Walker, his nephews Stan Sasser, Art Sasser, Willie Milligan, Robert McNair, James Sheehy, and his great-nephews Joe Willis, Matt McNair, Marc Lowery, and Wayne Willis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Yellville, Arkansas.
Services by Roller-Burns Funeral Home in Yellville, Arkansas.
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20 Condolence(s)
Judy Meek
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Deepest sympathy. I remember him, as many do, from his singing in the community and at so many funerals. Layne, you and the family are in my prayers.
Judy
Larry Martin and Nortwest Ark. Bluegrass.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Thanks for the many years of friendship and support. You will be missed by all of us.
Bob and Mary Patrick
Monday, April 21, 2025
We will Missouri music get together with friends, listen to him sing and talk. I got to play some tunes with him and Mary knew him for years from Bruno-Pyatt. A wonderful man and friend
Don smith
Monday, April 21, 2025
I had the privilege of knowing Jimmy Joe for several years and working with him at Bruno Pyatt School. He was a great influence on not only children but adults as well. His legacy will live on in the lives of the ones he knew and cared about. A great Christian man that will be greatly missed on this earth , but we look forward to seeing you again in Heaven
Sharon Sasser Warren
Monday, April 21, 2025
My father, Norvin Sasser, and Jimmy Joe were first cousins. They reconnected in later years and my Dad so enjoyed their phone calls talking and reminiscing together. I hope they get together in heaven and have a nice long conversation.
Mari Underwood
Monday, April 21, 2025
Condolences to the family! My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time.
He was such a treasure of a man! Some of my fondest memories in school were of him, singing on Fridays were the best, He was the best story teller and I can still remember so many of them.
He will be missed by so many.
Terry and Karen Wilson
Monday, April 21, 2025
Sorry for your loss he was a great man and loved his singing
Nancy King
Monday, April 21, 2025
Will always love the beautiful music.
Les Swafford
Monday, April 21, 2025
Always enjoyed listening to him tell a story. It didn't matter what it was about
Vicki Roberts
Saturday, April 19, 2025
FAMILY; YOU HAVE MEMORIES MOST FAMILY MISS OUT ON. I HAVE KNOWN JOE FOR MANY YEARS......HE WAS A "GO TO" PERSON IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ON THE BRUNO AREA AND A LOT OF HISTORY ON MARION CO. I USED TO SING WITH JOE AND THE COMMUNITY CHOIR. I NEVER TIRED OF HEARIN JOE TELL STORIES. A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAN.
Robert and Marilyn McNair
Saturday, April 19, 2025
We have lost a true caring man. He will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers for the family.
Mike and Donna Kaye (Benton) Treat
Saturday, April 19, 2025
I was so sorry to hear about Jimmy Joe. He was one of the finest men I have known. He would help anyone I bet he has sung at half the funerals in Marion Co. He sang at my mom’s funeral and did a wonderful job
I remember all them singing at the nursing home at yellville everyone enjoy it so much
They play at Turkey Trot and on the radio at seldom heard so many great memories
I know he is walking and playing music on the streets of gold today. Prayers to all the family and friends he had.
Linda Moreau
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Layne and Mac, so sorry to hear of Jimmie Joe’s passing. He was a jewel!!! I can remember him at Bruno. Hugs and prayers!
AJ & Janice Barrett
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Our hearts are so sad. Jimmy Joe will be missed by many for a long time. Heaven surely has sweeter music now. Praying God will comfort his family during this sad time.
Josephine Sasser Dodd
Friday, April 18, 2025
A great loss for the community. He surely will be missed. I will always remember your beautiful voice and proud to be your first cousin My condolences to the family
Harris Families
Friday, April 18, 2025
Many condolences to the family our your loss...
Where to start...What a life!...
One filled with such memories for many of us who were impacted by him in his career in education...What a man!...
Continue to love teaching the kiddos I teach today, as well as both of mine in their youth, maybe the best song ever taught to us at Bru-Py on a Friday's in 1978: "...Washing Dishes With My Sweetie..."
Thank you for assisting in shaping us into the people we are today!...
Janice and Steve Triner
Friday, April 18, 2025
We are so sorry to hear of Joe's passing. We missed him this week at the community Holy Week services. He was a delightful man. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Susan Leslie
Friday, April 18, 2025
So sorry for your loss of your father, Laura. We will be thinking of you and your family!
Larry and Kathy Fisher
Friday, April 18, 2025
Prayers for comfort and healing during your loss. Will miss Joe teaching our Sunday school lesson and fixing his coffee on Sunday morning. He was amazing man as he could remember all the songs out of the heavenly highway song book. A fine Christian man.
Larry and Kathy Fisher
Friday, April 18, 2025
Prayers for comfort and healing during your loss. Will miss Joe teaching our Sunday school lesson and fixing his coffee on Sunday morning. He was amazing man as he could remember all the songs out of the heavenly highway song book. A fine Christian man.