Joan (Joanie) Leoline Uhiren Woodruff of Little Rock, Arkansas entered the glory of heaven
on December 14, 2023, after her brief battle with cancer. She was born January 14, 1958 to
Gloria (Bujarski) & William (Bill) Uhiren of Carlisle. The first part of her life was on the family
farm and attending Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Slovak, Arkansas. At the
early age of 4, the family moved to Carlisle, Arkansas and attended St. Rose of Lima
Catholic Church.
Joanie played basketball for and graduated from Carlisle High School. She loved animals
and began her career as a veterinarian assistant. She obtained her LPN and then her RN
license from Baptist School of Nursing. She worked as an LPN at an England nursing
home. She began her RN career at Baptist Memorial Hospital in North Little Rock. Spent
30+ years at UAMS as a surgical nurse with one year working in apheresis. She retired in
2020 and her regret was that she did not get a retirement party due to COVID. Then, as
many nurses do, she returned to work part-time, one day a week and finished her career in
August 2023 at UAMS Orthopedics and Spine Institute.
Once Katie entered her life and then Addison, they became the center of her existence. She
loved traveling with them. Her joy was attending Addison’s performances with Parkview
High School Choir and Theater.
Joanie was a true flower child of the 60s. She had a brilliant smile and wonderful
personality. Many of her friends and UAMS associates came to see her during her
hospitalizations and in her home. They shared many stories with Katie, Addison and Peggy
about her kindness, her generosity, and her joy of life.
The family would like to extend their thanks for Joanie’s wonderful care: to UAMS 7th Floor
Oncology nurses & staff; UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, UAMS Health
Radiation Oncology Center, Staffs and Konstantinos Arnaoutakis M.D. and Lisa Harrell,
D.O. and UAMS Oncology Urgent Care. Her battle with cancer was made so much easier
by Emily Newsome, D.O. and her staff at UAMS Palliative Care Clinic and her end life care
by Arkansas Hospice. Addison expresses gratitude to her teachers and mentors. Words
cannot express our appreciation to her friends who attended Joanie in her home to help
Katie: Christopher Paladino, Ching Hearnsburger, Jeane Meek, Diane Kinsey McGee and
Charlene Cunningham. May the Lord bless the kind, compassionate and caring medical
teams and friends, including those who called, visited, contributed to her Go Fund Me
account, and the countless that prayed for Joanie. Also, thank you to Pastor Shirlee of St.
Mark Baptist Church of Little Rock and Crystal Reed, Brandy Burris, and Mary Walls for
being there for Joanie, Katie, and Addison during this time. Thank you to Father Shaun
Wesley also, Byrum Kelly and Barbara Rogers of Westbrook Funeral Home.
Her funeral services will be held on December 30, 2023, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic
Church in Carlisle, Arkansas as follows: Rosary at 10:00 followed by Visitation at 10:30 and
Funeral at 11:00. Burial will be next to her mother and father at St. Cyril and Methodius
Cemetery in Slovak, Arkansas.
Memorials may be made to The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation by visiting
netrf.org/give-now ( http://netrf.org/give-now )
I worked with Joanie the last 6 years of my career. When it snowed, I usually gave her a ride to work. Not long after I started at UAMS she was talking about her granddaughter and how there was no one to take her to the father-daughter dance at her school. I told her I’d take her, and I did. Since doing that I could do nothing wrong in Joanies eyes and we became good friends.
Joanie was a great nurse and a wonderful person. Always with a smile and sweet nature she delivered care and compassion to her patients and fellow staff where she worked. She was loved by her work family and will be missed by all of us.
Such a sweet and caring person. I really enjoyed working with her at UAMS. I miss seeing her beautiful smile already.
Joanie was such a beautiful person that I had the joy of working with for 5 years @ UAMS. Her huge smile & great personality is what I’ll treasure forever in my memories of her.
I had the privilege of knowing Joanie through her granddaughter, Addison. She was a lovely person who is greatly missed.
I know Joanie will be missed because she was a really a special person. She was always happy to see me and I was always happy to see that huge smile and happy spirit when we crossed paths. The day I saw her coming down the hallway and found out she was sick, it stunned me for a moment. She tried to comfort me even then by telling me she was going to be alright. Well she is definitely alright now because she has no more pain and suffering and she knows Katie and Addison will be just fine because they had a great example to follow. Great lady and friend!!!
I sure enjoyed working with Joanie. We had a lot of good times.
Katie; she was one of the first to hold my son after he was born!
Also , Joanie was one of the most thoughtful person.
Rest in Peace my sweet friend.
Beth