Jo Ann Meeker

Jo Ann (Strange) Meeker, 87, of Amarillo, Texas passed away December 15, 2024.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM, Friday, December 27, 2024 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount. Interment will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

Jo was born June 26, 1937 in Amarillo, Texas, the daughter of Otis A. and Belle Strange. Jo graduated from Amarillo High School in June 1955 and married the love of her life, Leo Dallas Meeker on October 14, 1955, at North Amarillo Church of Christ. As a bride, Jo Ann moved to Kokomo, Indiana to live with her wonderful in-laws Edna and Stan Turnbull. After one year Jo and Leo returned to Amarillo to purchase their first home, where they lived when their first daughter, Sharon was born. Two and a half years later the whole family moved to the home at 3400 Taylor St. Jo Ann barely had time to settle into the cute little house, when second daughter Sandy was born. The house was HOME until October 1981 when the City of Amarillo purchased it in order to build a new railway overpass on 34th Street.

Jo and Leo were active members of Southside Church of Christ from 1956 until Southside merged with Southlawn Church of Christ in the mid 70’s and created Southwest Church of Christ. Jo Ann’s church and spiritual lives were of prime importance in her heart. These together with prayer helped her through many of her life’s turmoil’s. Jo had the heart of a teacher and explored that gift by teaching her daughters at home. She also taught Sunday school along with Kindergarten for Amarillo Christian Schools. After a few years she decided to return to college and work towards her Bachelor’s degree in Education (with a special concentration in Art education) from West Texas State University in 1976. After graduation in 1976, she accepted a position as an art teacher at Eastridge Elementary School. She continued in that post until retirement in 1997.

She loved teaching and she loved learning with her students. Many times, former pupils have approached her in public to remind her that they remember her. Their smiling faces always shone with joy at seeing her again. After retirement, Jo and Leo dedicated themselves to travel. They covered every state in the union as Well as parts of Canada and Mexico. They traveled to Finland to see their daughter Sharon and traveled around Europe as well. Jo loved Ireland and Italy the most. She always wanted to visit Israel, but never achieved that goal. After retirement, Jo Ann cultivated a wildflower garden outside her dining room window that sometimes stopped traffic. She enjoyed her time in the garden very much and really regretted having to scale it back when her health would not allow her to continue. 

Jo became an active member of Amarillo Senior Citizen’s Association and rarely ever missed a chance to meet with her beloved “Quilt Ladies!” This art and these lovely friends supported her through many years. She enjoyed writing her column “Quilt Chat” for the ASCA newsletter “The Lamplighter” from 1997 until 2009. This kindhearted woman will be very missed by her family and friends. We are all left with the lessons she taught us. - “Be kind. You never know what another person has been through.” And “go ahead to fulfill your obligations, even if you are afraid.” 

And. “Listen before you react.”

Jo Ann is survived by her daughter, Sharon; her son-in-law, Eero Tanttu of Lake Oswego, Oregon; their daughter, Ella Tanttu and her husband Andrew Kepler of Portland, Oregon; her beloved grandson, Cameron Tollett of Canyon, Texas; her sister-in-law, Beth Ann Meeker of Anderson, Indiana; brother-in law, Boyce Tate of Houston, Texas; numerous nephews and nieces scattered through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia and Florida. She has watched them grow up and create lives for themselves as well as homes and beautiful families. She often mentioned how proud of all of them she felt.

Jo Ann requested that in lieu of flowers it was her wish that any money that might have been spent on flowers, would instead be donated to: High Plains Children’s Home, 11461 S. Western St., Amarillo, Texas 79118.