Plainview - Jo Ann Thomas, age 79, formerly of Plainview, passed away on March 9, 2024, in Denton, Texas. A visitation will be held at 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Lemons Funeral Home. Funeral service for Ms. Thomas will be at 11:00am, Friday, March 15, 2024, at First Christian Church in Plainview with Pastor Richard Dye officiating. Interment will follow in Plainview Memorial Park next to her Father Edwin Jesse Thomas and her mother Addie Frances Thomas.

Jo Ann Thomas was born on April 26, 1944, in Plainview, Texas to Edwin Jesse Thomas and Addie Frances Thomas. Jo Ann lived at 807 Lexington in Plainview, Texas.

Jo Ann attended Highland Elementary, Estacado Junior High, and her freshman year at Plainview High School, in 1960. She then moved to Lubbock, Texas where she attended and graduated from Monterey High School in 1963. She moved back to Plainview, Texas after graduating from Monterey High in June of 1963. She then went to work for Sears in Plainview in 1965 for eighteen years until the store closed. On May 3, 1985, Jo Ann went to work for Evalene's Imports in Plainview, Texas until she retired on December 21, 2012.

Jo Ann attended Westmont Christian Church in Lubbock, Texas from 1960 to 1963. She later joined First Christian Church in Plainview where she accepted Jesus Christ on April 3,1965, and was baptized on April 11, 1965. She was a Sunday School Teacher for many years and was also a member of the Church Choir and was the Children's Choir Director for a couple of years. She became a Deaconess for the First Christian Church in Plainview in 2007.

In 1999, Jo Ann was chosen Most Loyal Employee in Plainview and received a Plaque and a photo of her, and an article was published in the Plainview Daily Herald newspaper.

In February of 2018, Jo Ann's health got bad and was in a nursing home in Plainview, her brother, Richard decided to take Jo Ann to Denton to live with him. He cared for her until he contacted septic shock in May of 2023, when he almost passed away. Richard had not fully recovered and was left walking with a cane and could no longer care for his sister.

In June of 2023, Jo Ann was placed in the Vintage Nursing Home, because she needed additional care. During the last couple of months, Jo Ann's health had declined to the point where she had to be put back in the hospital on March 4, 2024. She continued to decline, and on March 7, 2024, the decision was made to put her in hospice care. She was resting comfortably until Jo Ann stopped breathing at 7:37am, on March 9, 2024.

Jo Ann Thomas is survived by her brother, Edwin Richard Thomas & wife Lynda of Denton, Texas, nephew, Jason Edwin Thomas & wife Denise of Denton, Texas, grandniece, Taylor Nicole Thomas of  The University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA, grandniece, Katelyn Elizabeth Thomas of Denton, Texas, nephew, Scott Mankins & wife Deanna of Zachary, LA, grandniece, Molly Svoren & husband Raymond, great-grandnephew, Jameson Svoren of Baton Rouge, LA, grandnephew, Micheal Mankins of Zachary, LA, grandniece, Mallory Mankins of Richardson, TX, nephew, Kent Mankins & wife Toni of Veradale, WA, grandnephews, Logan Mankins & wife Destini of Seattle, WA, and Ethan Mankins of Veradale, WA, and cousins: Omer Dean Carver & wife Beth of Hale Center, TX, Maude Roden of Lubbock, TX, Dee Becker & husband Steve of Midland, TX  and Debra Pack & husband Bobby of Bryan, TX.