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In loving memory

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July 7, 1937 –  June 7, 2016  Former Whitesboro resident and educator, JoAnn Barrett Jewell, age 78, died peacefully Tuesday, June 7, in Hillsboro, Kansas. The family will receive friends at Meador Funeral Home, Saturday, June 11th between 3:30-5:00 pm. A Private Graveside for family will follow at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Ken Hildebrand officiating. Meador Funeral Home of Whitesboro, Texas is in charge of arrangements.
JoAnn was born July 7, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Helen Ford Barrett and Joseph Arthur Barrett. She was raised in Greenville, Texas, where she graduated from Greenville High School in 1955. She graduated from East Texas University in 1959 after also attending North Texas and Texas A&M.

She married the love of her life, Robert Jewell, on May 31, 1958 in Greenville, Texas. Their marriage began a life-long partnership that took them numerous places around the world, finally settling in Whitesboro in 1975. Together they operated the Jewell Ranch until their retirement in 2014. In September 2015, she and Robert moved to Hillsboro, Kansas to be closer to family.

JoAnn and Bob started their 58 years together in College Station, Texas while he finished school at Texas A&M. She worked in the chemistry lab as an assistant by day and typed Bob’s senior petroleum engineering thesis by night. Following graduation, they moved to Pauls Valley, OK where their daughter, Janet, was born and where Bob began his career with Halliburton. They were soon relocated to Alexandria, Virginia, for military duty then returned to Healdton, OK with Halliburton. Bob’s career moved them to Seminole, OK, Woodward, OK, Oklahoma City, OK, where their son, Jeff, was born, Denver, CO, Perth, West Australia, Jakarta, Indonesia, Ft Worth, TX, Los Angeles, CA. JoAnn always supported Bob in his career and worked to make their dream of returning to the family Whitesboro homestead one day. They fulfilled their lifelong dream and loved every day together.

Public service was a prominent part of JoAnn’s life. She was an active community
volunteer and supporter of various local organizations all benefiting children and those in need including FUMC, Whitesboro School Education Foundation, Prison Ministry, Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and many more. She lived her life to serve others. In 1986, she opened the Children’s Tree Learning Center in Whitesboro as director and teacher to area wide children for sixteen years. Prior to Children’s Tree, she taught public school to children ages elementary through senior high in various locations including Whitesboro students. She was the recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award given by the Whitesboro Chamber of Commerce in 1989, and honored as the Grayson County “Citizen of the Year” in 2000.

JoAnn is survived by her husband, Robert, and her children: Janet Jewell Whisenhunt (Randy) of Hillsboro, Kansas, Jeff Jewell (Kristy) of Northville, Michigan; five grandchildren: Julie Ford (Tony), Jennifer Whisenhunt, William Jewell, Robert Jewell and Thomas Jewell; two great-grandchildren: James Ford and Joseph Ford; her beloved friends Mary and Jim McDowell and family, and many friends whom she loved dearly. Memorial contributions may be made in JoAnn’s name to the First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 370, Whitesboro, Texas 76273.