Obituary of Jo Ann Perry

Jo Ann Perry, age eighty-nine, of Bastrop, Louisiana passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, June 10, 2021, after suffering a series of debilitating strokes. She was born on July 24, 1931, to the late Irene Cole and Earl L Barron. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A. Perry. Jo Ann is survived by sister, Dawn Thompson of Lewisville, Texas and her children, Karen Murphy of Mandeville, Louisiana, and James Barron Perry and wife Tonia of Bastrop, Louisiana; grandchildren, Patrick Murphy and wife Tamarah of North Ogden, Utah, Kimberly Murphy of Mandeville, Louisiana, Heather M. Jessee and husband Wade of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Blake Johnston; great-grandchildren, Chase Johnston, Callen Murphy, Hunter Jessee, Mason Jessee, Hartley Johnston, and Fox Johnston. She was loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Jo Ann lived in Alto, Louisiana until age five and the family moved to Swartz, Louisiana. She graduated from Ouachita Parish High School, where she met her husband, James (Jimmy). Jo Ann went on to graduate from Northeast Junior College in Medical Technology. While attending college she was chosen as a maid of the Homecoming Court. She and her high school sweetheart married, April 14, 1950 and were married for sixty-seven years at the time of his death. After marriage they lived in Perryville, Louisiana a few years before building a home on Bayou Bartholomew on the family farm land. She was a person who really loved her profession and really excelled becoming the Chief Technologist of the Lab at Morehouse General Hospital. She took computer courses at NLU to help with the operations of new lab testing equipment. Jo Ann retired after twenty years from Morehouse Hospital and went on to be the Head of the Chemistry Department in the medical lab at Conway Hospital in Columbia, Louisiana. She worked twenty years at Conway before retiring. She filled her retirement years enjoying traveling throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland and parts of England with family and friends. Her children and grandchildren describe their MeMe as ready to go at anytime and try something new, hating to miss all their events she could attend. Jo Ann may have been fast paced but always found time to slow down for family and friends. Her home was always open to all with plenty of good home cooking. Jo Ann loved her church, First Presbyterian of Bastrop, serving as an elder, choir member, and many other activities. She volunteered at Morehouse Hospital, but always dedicated a day to work in her yard which she loved. The family wishes to thank her caregivers, Florna Davis and Dorothy Dukes for their devotion, compassion, and skilled care. Also, we want to thank her physician, Dr. James M. Smith and the staff of Elara Home Health and Hospice for such compassionate and skilled care. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 2 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Bastrop, officiated by Pastor Jim Benbrook. A reception will follow the service in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.