Jo Ann Kilpatrick passed away in Waco at the St. Catherine Center on Jan. 6, 2018, at the age of 77. A multi-stroke victim, she had been a resident at the Mexia LTC, formerly Haven Nursing Home, since 2003. At her request, her body was donated to science to help others through research. A memorial service will be set at a later date, with a private family interment in the Thornton Cemetery.
Jo Ann was born in Coolidge to Nolan Erwin “Hanna” Henderson and Lillian Fay Lewis Henderson on Christmas Day 1940. She grew up and attended schools in the Tehuacana and Mexia area. She was a Methodist, and united in marriage, on Feb. 10, 1961, with John K. Kilpatrick in the Methodist Church, in Tehuacana. She worked with her husband and operated several businesses in the Mexia area including, Mexia Auto Sales, Mexia Car Wash and others until she became ill in 1997 forcing her to quit work.
She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a great cook and the champion banana ice cream maker. She enjoyed going Jeeping, over high passes in Colorado, a couple of times a year with “the group.” The first trip to Colorado was usually taken the third week in September to see the fall colors and then in December to ride snowmobiles. She loved to go fishing and would catch, clean and cook them herself.
Jo Ann was a dead shot with a pistol, rifle or shotgun and feared nothing. When her illness occurred, she faced it with the tenacity of a pioneer woman. There were many times she was “down for the count” but repeatedly pulled through for 20 years
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nolan Erwin and Lillian Fay Henderson; and a brother, Billy Gene Henderson.
Jo Ann is survived by her sister, Linda Fay Webb and husband Jim, of Mexia; brother, Nolan Lewis Henderson and wife Lisa, of Tehuacana; daughters, Charlotte Ann Kilpatrick, of Mexia, and Tammy Kay Keys and Johnny Norman, of Richland; son John Trey Kilpatrick and Iris Mullis, of Athens; granddaughters Brittany Blair Martinez and husband Chris of Eugene, Ore., Kashley Tyler Keys, of Richland; great-grandson Atlas Martinez, of Eugene, OR; many nieces and nephews; and John K. Kilpatrick of Lake Limestone, who was her husband for many years.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to LTC/Haven/Jo Ann Wheel Chair Fund, 601 N. Terrace Lane, Mexia, TX 76667.
Visit blair-stubbs.com to sign the guestbook or leave a message of condolence.