Jo Ann Dolores Athey

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Jo Ann Dolores Athey, 83, of Lucketts, Virginia, passed away peacefully and with family in her home on January 16th, 2023.  Jo Ann was born and raised in Point of Rocks, Maryland. She shared many fond memories of roller skating, playing in the Potomac River, and climbing along the train tracks.  She spent her time outside of school helping her parents run their filling station, where she met the love of her life, James Athey. Their romance of the ages led Jo Ann to her favorite pastime - being a mother to her four beautiful children. The large family that grew from them orbited her.  Jo Ann was their sunshine.

Other than being the best cook in the world, Jo Ann was also the most gentle, caring, thoughtful, loving, and selfless person on earth. She never took more than she gave and she was a pillar of strength for everyone she loved. Her grace and beautiful smile were stunning. Nothing made her smile more than spending delightful days with her family.

Jo Ann and Jimmy moved their family to a large farm in Lucketts, Virginia, that they nurtured and thanked Jehovah for everyday. Jo Ann spent countless hours preserving the produce from their bountiful gardens. Her kindness was beyond compare and she welcomed family and friends into her kitchen every single day. She was born with a passion for cooking and her exceptional skills created highly sought after recipes. She would never let a visitor leave hungry.  Jo Ann’s work ethic, organization, and precise bookkeeping abilities helped her  husband’s custom home building and farming businesses become great successes.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband, James Calvin Athey, her sons Mitchell Athey and Michael Athey, her father, Joseph Kerrigan, her mother, Naomi Kerrigan, and her grandson, Austin Calvin Echols.

Jo Ann leaves behind her son Mark Athey and wife, Jackie, her daughter Michele Athey-Coates, her sister-in-law Debbie Athey-Fitchett and family, her grandchildren Joseph Athey and wife Melissa, Amanda Athey-Cumberland and husband, Matt, Ryan Athey, Jacob Athey, Alton Echols and wife, Kaitlyn, Ashton Echols, Autumn Echols-Knowles and husband, James, and Sean Athey, her great-grandchildren Summer, Darby, Sadie, Waylon, Aiden, Jiada, along with the many other loved ones.

Jo Ann rescued Kitty, a big black barn cat. He became her love and joy in the last years of her life. In the rare times Jo Ann had no visitors, Kitty was there for her with warm company.

So, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition.

Family will receive friends on January 24, 2023 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd., NE., Leesburg, VA  20176 where a service will begin at 12:00 pm.  Interment to follow at Furnace Mountain Cemetery, 12946 James Monroe Hwy., Lucketts, Virginia.