Janice Eve Buffalo Gooch, age 78, passed away on November 12, 2025 in Forrest City, Arkansas. Janice was born October 27, 1947 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and went home with her parents to Sherrill, Arkansas. Janice was raised in Carlisle, Arkansas and graduated from Carlisle High School. After graduation, she went to Ouachita Baptist University and received a B.S. in Home Economics.
Janice’s first job was teaching home economics at Bradley High School. She alter accepted a home economics position with the University of Arkansas Co-operative Extension Service and worked 21 years in several counties. She also taught elementary students at Lee Academy in Marianna for approximately 13 years, she especially enjoyed teaching reading to young children.
Janice married Jim Gooch at the First Baptist Church in Carlisle, Arkansas on June 29, 1974.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Jim; her brother, Richard F. Buffalo of Carlisle, Arkansas. She loved and cherished her many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Janice was preceded in death by both of her parents, Robert and Dorothy; her brother, Robert E. Buffalo; and her sister, Georgia Lee.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her memory to CARTI or the First Baptist Church of Carlisle, Arkansas.
A graveside funeral service for Janice will be Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 beginning at 11:00 A.M. at the Carlisle Cemetery Pavilion.
Janice was my aunt, and I loved her very much. We had so much fun during our Christmas’s at my grandparents house. Lots of fun memories together. She will be missed greatly. RIP.
Love Donald Lee
Janice was such a sweet and gracious lady. I’ll never forget the wonderful hospitality both of you showed when you offered us a bed when traveling from Nashville to Oklahoma. Also, she was so good to send our Mother cards and notes as she got older. Janice was a very thoughtful person.
Janice was my friend, my college roommate at Ouachita, my Maid of Honor and she loved my children dearly. Jancie did her Practice Teaching under me at Lake Hamilton before graduating from OBU. She visited us in Pollack, Louisiana. I knew she was coming to see Jeremy. Brigitte and Jeremy grew up calling her Aunt Jancie. There has been some sparing between Buffalo nieces and nephews as to just whose Aunt Janice she was. She let me stay with her on the Friday nights that I was headed to Fort Polk, Louisiana. She never forgot to send cards on birthdays or one just because she wanted you to know she was thinking of you. She there when I lost my grandmother, my aunt, my parents and she and Jim came to Mena for the funeral of my children’s father. It is hard to write about all the memories and moments that I shared with her. We had so many and some she would not want me to share. She was a dear and special lady and will always have a place in my heart. Janice was a delight.
Janice was a thoughtful, dependable employee. I always enjoyed working with her. Jim I know you will miss her dearly. Your family will be in my prayers.
Our prayers continue for her family.
Sending thoughts and prayers for the entire family.