Jo Ella Anderson
Jo Ella Anderson passed away peacefully in Ennis, Texas February 6, 2024. She was born in Victoria, Texas September 12, 1934, to Della and Thomas Thornton and subsequently moved to Corpus Christi. In 1953 she married Jim Stephens and they raised two daughters, Stephanie and Roxana before divorcing. After moving to Dallas, Jo Ella met and married John Angus Anderson in 1975.
Most of her career was spent in the banking industry. After retiring they moved to Ennis, Texas in 1995, and she became an active volunteer in the Ennis Rotary Club where she was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. She also worked tirelessly in the Ennis Garden Club, Hospital Auxiliary at Baylor Medical Center in Ennis, American Red Cross, Ennis Friends of Library, Ennis Heritage Society Board, and was an Ambassador for Ennis Chamber of Commerce.
Jo Ella loved her family and always had a camera on hand to document the family events and milestones. She had a love of animals and had many over the years, but particularly cherished Ernie, her green Amazon parrot.
For many years, Jo Ella and Andy had a boat docked at Lake Texoma where they spent most weekends there entertaining friends and family.
Jo Ella is survived by her daughters Stephanie Prennace and Roxana Candy (Larry), as well as stepchildren Bryce Anderson, Catherine (Jeff) Gannon, James Anderson, and Susan (Jack) Anderson; along with 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by sisters, Henri Eta (John) Knight, Auburn, California, Deborah (Rodney) Boyd, Celina, TX, and Bonnie (Gary) Smithers of Lusby, Maryland.
Preceding her in death were her parents, a brother Henry Edwin Barfoot in 1988, and her husband John Angus Anderson in 2016.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.. in the J.E. Keever Mortuary of Ennis.
A Celebration of her life will take place on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 2 p.m.in the J.E. Keever Mortuary Chapel of Ennis. Interment will follow in Myrtle Cemetery of Ennis under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a charitable donation to either First Presbyterian Church of Ennis or Helping Hands of Ennis.
