Jo Ann Thompson Roberts

1931-2015

Jo Ann was born in rural Eastland County, Texas, on November 17, 1931. On August 27, 2015, she fell into a peaceful sleep awakening into a painless and permanent existence.

After her early childhood in the hardscrabble, post-Depression, heart of Texas, she spent most of her life in the big city of Houston, living in Sale, Cheshire in England for a while and eventually retiring from Dresser Industries.

Her talent as a painter is second only to her passion for, knowledge of, Texas and English history. Her razor wit has always been at least equal to that of Mark Twain or Will Rogers.

But, despite her accomplishments and experiences, she will forever be remembered for her fundamental values as a “country girl”. She has always been incapable of pretense or worrying what the neighbors might think.

Her generosity, compassion and patience have always been without limits. She has never had filters or boundaries. She has always said what’s on her mind.

Generations of friends, family and total strangers have benefited from Jo Ann’s impact. Thousands of furred and feathered creatures have been saved due to her abiding sense of decency and charity.

Jo Ann is the definition of “lady” and “matriarch”.

Her daughter Carolyn Stanton, her brother Richard Thompson, her sister-in-law Pat Thompson, her grandson Tanner Stanton and her son-in-law Mike Stanton have published this tribute in the present tense - not in the past.

Jo Ann’s life continues in their lives, just on a higher plane.

Private family remembrances will be held at a later date - both in Houston and Jonesboro, Texas.

In lieu of flowers or other tokens in memorium, contributions should be made to Frisky Paws, LLC, Houston SPCA or other local animal welfare agencies.

That’s what Jo Ann wants. And what Jo Ann wants, Jo Ann gets.