Jennifer Jo “J.J.” Birch was born February 27, 1974 to Barbara Ann (Chester) and James Paul Massey, Jr. She passed away at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock at the age of 47 years, 1 month and 33 days.
J.J. grew up in Sayre, Oklahoma where she attended school graduating in 1992. During her high school years she was active in band, playing the trumpet. After graduation, she continued her education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in accounting with a finance minor.
After graduation, in 1996, she married Blake DeSpain. They moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma where she worked in a bank. They had two children, Austin and Ashley. After their marriage ended, she met Nick Birch and moved to Benton, Arkansas. She worked at Iberia Bank until she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2016.
J.J. enjoyed playing golf with Austin, going to cheer competitions with Ashley and hiking to see waterfalls with Nick and their dog, Riley.
J.J. was saved when she was in junior high at Falls Creek Church Camp.
J.J. has fought a long, hard battle of chemo treatments for the past five years.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry and Ruth Chester; aunt, Earlene Mutschler; grandfather, James Paul Massey, Sr.; and cousin, Mallory Ashton Henson.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Nick of the home; son Austin, of Claremore, Oklahoma, who is attending Rogers State College; daughter, Ashley, of Fayetteville who is attending the University of Arkansas; her parents, Paul and Barbara Massey of Sayre, Oklahoma; sister and brother-in-law, Jamie and Steve Scott; niece and nephew: Marli and Ethan Scott; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins; and special friends: Roy Varnell, Char Silk, and Shannon Gagnepain.
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