I wish I could tell you what the weather was like on September 25, 1945, when JoAnn was born, but I was only about 30 months old myself. It might not even surprise JoAnn to learn that I have no memory of that day. I do know that my life changed that day; I was no longer the baby of the family. Maurice was 9 years old, and Joyce was almost 5, when JoAnn joined our family and filled that small house.
We lived in the Heights for 7 more years before moving to our new home on the far north edge of the city of Houston. There were not many kids on our street when we first moved, but more houses were built over the next few years, and we got to make new friends at school. Mary lived on the corner, one house over, and Florence lived on the other side of the pasture before new homes were built on that land. Not long after, a new family moved in next door with 3 daughters (Royetta, Beverly, and Donna) and parents who would become the best neighbors you could wish for.
Maurice had started at Reagan High School before we moved, but had to transfer to Davis High School when we moved. He graduated from Davis in 1955. The new Sam Houston High School was completed and opened in September 1955. Burbank Junior High School was overcrowded, and Sam Houston was a new school with extra space, so they moved those starting the high-ninth to Sam Houston. Joyce graduated in January 1959. I started at Sam Houston in September 1958 and graduated in 1961.
JoAnn started at Sam Houston in January 1961 as part of the Class of 1964, but she and some others in her class graduated early in the summer semester. JoAnn, like her sister, was a member of the Sam Houston Houstonetts. I am fortunate to have pictures from the 1961 Houstonettes’ Stardust Ball with Joyce, Ted, JoAnn, her date, Pat, and me together at the one dance.
Maurice married Charlotte in 1959, and Joyce married Ted in 1960, and for the first time, both JoAnn and I had a bedroom for ourselves. I married Eva in March 1964, and JoAnn married Lynn just a few months later. At that point, our parents had the house to themselves. Times were tough during the war years, and it was not unusual for family members to take in other family members at times.
The four of us would provide our parents with eight grandchildren, two from each family. First was Kim, then Karen, Pam, Greg, Tammy, Robert, Jennifer, and last was Jeff. Our family gatherings looked a lot like the Jones family gatherings. I am not sure we thought much about how much work that caused for mom each of those family meals.
Dad’s lung cancer came back in 1978, which would take his life 3 months before he would turn 70. JoAnn and I both had great memories of the time we shared with him during those final days, as if they were a gift of time to share with him. Mom lived another 25 years to age 86 before giving up this world shortly after Christmas 2003. She experienced many new things during those years, including shopping with JoAnn. Joyce’s husband, Ted, died suddenly of a blood clot in 1987 at the age of 46. Joyce lived another 26+ years before her health took her life at 73 in 2014. Charlotte, Maurice’s wife, lost her battle with cancer in January 2009 at the age of 69. Maurice then learned of his cancer just a short period later and joined Charlotte in December 2009 at the age of 73. In April 2022, my wife Eva left my side at the age of 78 to join the other family members, bringing grief into this home. We were blessed with 58 years of married life and friendship since the age of 9.
On September 26, 2024, JoAnn’s youngest son, Jeff, was taken suddenly during the night of JoAnn’s birthday when he was 52. JoAnn loved life and enjoyed many things, but she was never the same. Nothing could fill that hole he left.
JoAnn, like her mother, got great joy out of attending the Jones’ family reunions and Christmas lunches. She loved spending time with our aunts, uncles, and many cousins. It is only fitting that she handled the arrangements for our lunch for 2025 before Christmas.
JoAnn will be remembered for her big smiles and warm personality. I will miss our talks.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9 New International Version
Jim Reeves – In The Garden
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