Jo Ann Sweetser Johnston

Jo Ann Sweetser Johnston Jo Ann was born in Houston, Texas January 4, 1939 to Oscar Lee and Mollie B. (Looney) Sweetser. Her family moved from Houston to Trinity, Texas in 1942 then to Rockport, Texas by 1944 they moved to Jenks where they made their home. In 1945 her family bought a café on Main Street Jenks where every one of the family had a job to do no matter how small, “the child or the job.” In 1957 Jo Ann graduated from Jenks High School. That August she was accepted into the Saint John’s School of Radiology Technology, where she earned her Associates degree in science. Passing her national test, “The American Registry of Radiological Technologist”, that launched her life long career in Radiology, (Which she loved.) She worked at St. John’s for 15 years where she served on the Board of Oklahoma’s State and Local Society. She was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi. Jo Ann married and they had two sons, Stewart and Scott Johnston. They divorced when her boys were 5 and 6 years old. In 1971 she moved her young family to Woodlawn, Texas just north of Marshall, Texas on the back side of her Mother and Daddy’s 114 acres. This gave the boys plenty of room to roam. There was always a lot going on. She always remembered those years as the best ever. She worked at Marshall Memorial Hospital. After her boys were in High School she took a job at Marion County Hospital in Jefferson, Texas and worked there until both sons were out of school and on their own. In 1987 she accepted a manager’s position in Fredericksburg, Texas at Hill Country Memorial Hospital’s Imaging Center. She retired in December 2000. In 2002 she came back to Oklahoma, bought 60 acres outside of Ochelata, OK and settled into country life. Religion was a very important part of Jo Ann’s life. She was saved and was baptized at 12 years old at the First Baptist Church, Jenks, OK. When she moved to Texas she moved her membership to Woodlawn Baptist Church. Back in Oklahoma she moved her membership back to First Baptist Jenks. When asked she would tell you she had gone full circle and how happy and blessed she was to have lifelong friends she had made along the way. The biggest blessing however is her sons, their wives, and her grandchildren and step-grandchildren. They are the loves of her life. Preceded to heaven are; her parents, Oscar Lee and Mollie Sweetser; sister, Margie Cecile Sweetser; both sets of grandparents, Albert Lee and Margie Sweetser and Robert and Betty Looney; brother-in-law, Pete Landsoen; niece, Dana Ann Lansdown Barrack; and many aunts and uncles. Jo Ann is survived by; her children, Stewart and wife Billie Johnston of Ochelata, OK, Scott and wife Cherilyn Johnston of Marshall, Texas; her grandsons, Stewart and Billie’s son Justin of Ochelata, OK; and Scott’s son Austin of Marshall, Texas; her step-granddaughters, Hailey and Riley, Cherilyn’s daughters of Marshall; sisters Oma Jean Lansdown (to who she always had great love, gratitude and respect.) Oma Jean’s son David Lansdown, both of Tulsa, OK; Ti’Shia Miller of Texarkana, TX; Ti’Shia’s children Kelly, Shellie, Bryan, Tony, Jamie and Christopher; many great nieces and nephews; two aunts and many cousins. With special mention to Aunt Mattie Sweetser and daughter Maxine Sweetser Johnson, both of Nacogdoches, Texas; Gary Looney of Houston, TX; and Jerry Eddings of Lufkin, TX and Louise Eddings, Lufkin, TX. Our gratitude to Rivercross Hospice of Bartlesville, OK for their loving help. Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at Jenks First Baptist Church. Visitation 6:00 -8:00 p.m. Friday January 10, 2014 and Funeral Service 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 11, 2014 both at Sullivan Funeral Home, Marshall, Texas. Interment 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Gravel Ridge Cemetery, Nacogdoches, Texas. In lieu of flowers, Jo Ann requested donations be made to First Baptist Jenks Building Fund, 11701 S. Elm St., Jenks, OK 74037. Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 918-291-3500.

Jo Ann Sweetser Johnston

January 4, 1939 - January 1, 2014