Barbara Jean Rackley, a 56-year-old woman from Bigelow, Arkansas, was killed Saturday morning after the Jeep she was driving left the highway, crossed back over the roadway and overturned in a ditch. Her sudden death has left family members and friends mourning a woman whose greatest joy, according to her family, was spending time with the people she loved.
The fatal crash happened at approximately 6:12 a.m. on November 7, 2026, along State Highway 9 in Perryville, Perry County. Rackley was traveling northbound in a 2006 Jeep Laredo when the vehicle suddenly left the right side of the roadway.
According to the preliminary crash report from the Arkansas State Police, the Jeep later reentered the highway and crossed the center line. It then left the roadway again, entered a ditch and struck a guardrail post before overturning.
Rackley suffered fatal injuries in the crash. She was the only person listed as involved, and authorities did not report any additional injuries. Weather conditions were clear, and the roadway was dry at the time.
Investigators have not established what caused the Jeep to initially leave the roadway. Trooper First Class Zoey L. Knuckels of the Arkansas State Police was identified as the investigating officer. The Perry County coroner took custody of Rackley’s body, and authorities confirmed that her next of kin had been notified.
Away from the crash report, Rackley was known to her loved ones by the affectionate names Barbie and Birdie. Her family described her as a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She especially loved raising her boys and spending time with her grandchildren, who knew her as Birdie.
Her obituary also remembers her as a strong-willed and fiercely independent woman who preferred doing things herself rather than becoming a burden to others. She had a deep love for her family, and her beloved dogs, Kookie and Mister Frodo, also held a special place in her life.
Rackley was preceded in death by her life partner, Gregory Pearrow, her father, Robert C. Rackley, and two of her children, Brian Keith and Adam Cody. She is survived by her mother, Alice Faye Rackley; her children, David Smith, Justin Smith and Josh Pearrow; nine grandchildren; and several siblings, extended family members and friends.
Her family says a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. For those who knew her as Barbie or Birdie, her passing means saying goodbye to someone whose love for her family was a major part of her life.
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