Jackie Lou Barber [Millington] was born in Cambridge, Ohio on June 24, 1943, and passed away at the age of 82 on December 27th, 2025, days after suffering a stroke. She had been living at Green Village Skilled nursing in Akron, Ohio for several years due to ongoing health issues.

Jackie grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1961. Jackie attended secretarial school and worked in many different vocations throughout her life. These included Kennedy's bakery in Cambridge, Ohio; dedicating many years as a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters, Lori and Lesa; employment for many years at Teledyne Monarch Rubber in Hartville, Ohio; and Sanese Services in North Canton, Ohio. Later in life, she became a creative entrepreneur making and selling her famous 'GaGa Lou' rice therapy bags.  In recent years, she thought a lot about her time working at Teledyne and recalled so much about the details of the work she did there.

Jackie was first married in 1963 to her daughters' father, Mel Harding for 13 years. She later met and married Roy Barber in 1979 and remained married to him and helped with his three sons for 33 years. About 12 years ago Jackie reunited with her Cambridge High School sweetheart, John Arnett.  They were engaged in 2015, and he continued to faithfully visit her several times a week at Green Village while she lived there; they remained together until her death.

Jackie cherished her family above all else and was a loving mother to her two daughters and welcomed their husbands into the family with open arms. She was a fun-loving grandmother to her six grandchildren and their six spouses, who all lovingly called her" Gaga" - sometimes Gaga Lou! Jackie took great joy in staying connected to her children's and grandchildren's lives and made intentional time to create memories together, whether celebrating holidays, enjoying beach trips, or simply spending quality time together. She is also blessed to have six great-grandchildren, with her family continuing to grow each year.

Jackie will be remembered for her love of laughter and her playful sense of humor with her family and friends. She enjoyed several genres of music, including 1950s favorites, pop, and Christian music. She had a creative spirit and enjoyed artistic pursuits and crafts, even taking painting classes in her 70s for fun. Those who knew Jackie well knew she was particular about how she liked things done and took great pride in keeping her home and belongings neat and beautiful- a defining part of her personality. She always wanted to be a blessing to others and tried her best to do just that.

Jackie was a member of the Uniontown United Methodist Church where she trained and worked as a volunteer Stephen's Minister. She deeply missed attending church when her health no longer allowed her to attend. Over the years her pastors graciously visited her to give communion, and John would read printed sermons from the pastor aloud to her at Green Village.

Jackie is survived by her fiancé, John Arnett. Her sister, Debbie Burris. Her daughters, Lori (Kevin) Duke, and Lesa (Art) Fulks; and her beloved grandchildren: Bryce (Rachel) Duke; Tyler (Brynn) Duke; Nathan (Kelly) Fulks; Jared (Megan) Fulks; Kara (Tyler) Dailey; and Lindsey (Razi) Ramirez; and her great grandchildren: Brady, Layna, Weller, Calum, and June (Fulks) and Addison (Duke). She also has three nieces and a nephew.

She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Roy Barber; her sister, Susan Gildea; her cousin, Julia Wearsch; her brothers in law, Jim Burris and Joe Gildea; and her parents, Kathleen [McNichols] (Roy) Schimmel, and Jack Millington.

Services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Arnold Funeral Home Hartville, Ohio and burial will take place immediately following at Highland Memorial Park (Beloit, Ohio) at the mausoleum where she will be laid to rest alongside the Barber family.  Jackie's family will receive guests starting at 9:30 a.m. at Arnold Funeral Home prior to the funeral service.