Jo Ann Witt, 81, of Burkburnett, Texas, formerly of Grandfield, OK, passed away Sunday, December 9, 2018, in Burkburnett, TX.
Funeral service will be at the First United Methodist Church in Grandfield, on Thursday, December 13, at 10:00 a.m.; Rev. Darrell Perry will officiate
Services are under the direction of Gray Funeral Home of Grandfield, OK.
Jo Ann was born in the Fuqua Hospital in Grandfield, on August 3, 1937, to Rachel LaVerne Kinzer Witt and Charles Tillman Witt. She spent the first years of her life in her country home which was four and a half miles west of Grandfield. She started school at Union Grade Elementary. She later moved with her parents to Grandfield and graduated from Grandfield High School in 1955. She attended Oklahoma University. In 1956, she was awarded Miss Congeniality in the Miss Wichita Falls Pageant, an official Miss America Contest. Jo Ann resided in Grandfield, Oklahoma until 2017, she then moved to the Sheridan Medical Lodge in Burkburnett, Texas.
She was known for her great personality and quick wit. She loved games of all sorts, but was especially talented in Pitch and dominoes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, LaVerne Tisdale; and brother-in-law, Billy Frank Tisdale. She is survived by her brother, Charles T. Witt Jr. and hs wife (and Jo Ann's best friend) Margaret Fay Witt. Surviving nieces and nephews include Doni Witt, Mark Witt, Cindy Jacks, Leslie Stovall, April Walker, Frinchie Tisdale, Frank Tisdale and Tyson Tisdale.
JoAnn was close to her grandmother, Lillian Lee Kinzer, and her grandfather, Willoughby Marvin Witt. She had 28 first cousins on her mother's side of the family and 26 from her father's side as well as many second and third cousins who have remained close over the years. There were twelve children in her mother's family and eleven in her dad's family, which accounts for an unusual number of aunts, uncles and, of course cousins. JoAnn was loved by her family and many friends. She will be missed by all.