Jo Odom

Jo Ann Odom was born in Memphis, Texas on July 5, 1938 to Adrian and Jo Pearl Odom. She passed from this life after an all too brief battle with cancer on July 14, 2014 at the age of 76 years, 9 days.
Jo Ann spent most of her childhood in Memphis, was baptized in the First Baptist Church, and graduated from Memphis High School in 1956. She went on to Baylor University where she majored in Elementary Education, graduating in 1960. She received her Masters of Education at Texas Tech University in 1967. She completed many continuing education hours beyond her Master's degree including certification as a Library/Media Specialist.
After graduating from Baylor, she moved to the Lakewood, CO area to teach in the Jefferson County School system. Except for a brief period spent in Lubbock, Texas while completing her Master's degree, she lived in Lakewood for over 50 years.
Jo Ann had two great loves - world travel and animals, particularly cats. She took dozens of trips, traveled to every continent, visited over 150 places in the world and made many friends from all over the country through her travels. She was particularly interested in different cultures and wildlife. Many of her travel mementoes featured cats and wildlife. Jo Ann provided a home to seven cats at various times of her life, including Misty who survived her.
Survivors include: her brother, Jim and his wife, Donna of Cypress, TX; two nieces, Jill Odom Critchfield and her husband, Bryan of Cypress, TX; Jennifer Odom Googe and her husband, David of Shreveport, LA; seven great-nieces and nephews; and six cousins.
Jo Ann was a long-time supporter of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in the Texas panhandle near where she grew up. Donations can be made in her name to the charity of your choice or to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174.
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.