Jo Ann Beasley Drakos

Jo Ann Beasley Drakos

Jo Ann Beasley Drakos, 82, went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ as she died peacefully at her residence in Charlottesville, April 9, 2010, with her loved ones by her side.

Jo Ann was born October 22, 1927, in Amarillo, Texas, to the late LeRoy and Lottie Laura Beasley. They moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Jo Ann was raised.

She was also pre-deceased by her brother, Gerald Beasley, M.D.; her sister, Barbara Lee Webb; her husband, Theodore C. Drakos; and her daughter, Carol Ann Drakos Holland.

Jo Ann attended West Central High School in Tulsa, and it was there where she met Ted Drakos, whom she would later marry December 11, 1942. He was an outstanding baseball player who represented Oklahoma as an All American in The Esquire Game of 1945 where Ty Cobb was his coach for The West Team and Babe Ruth was coach of The East Team. He signed with the New York Giants farm team during college at the University of Tulsa, and played professionally for two years.

Jo Ann was elected as a Princess of Lambda Chi Alpha, Ted's fraternity. She was so adored by the fraternity and elected Princess even though she was not a student at that time.

Ted and Jo Ann were married for 33 years before Ted's untimely death at the age of 53 in 1981. Together, they had four children, Theodore Chris Drakos Jr., 58, Kathryn Sue Cattano, 55, married to John P. Cattano, Richard Lawrence Drakos, 52, married to Nancy Strickland Drakos, and Carol Ann Drakos Holland, deceased.

Jo Ann also left behind 11 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

All will remember her sincere love, encouragement and beautiful smile. Her sweet disposition and kindness made those around her feel blessed by her unconditional love. She was a dedicated mother and a devoted wife.

A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Bradley Funeral Home in Chatham, New Jersey. The viewing will be at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral service. She will be laid to rest next to her deceased husband, Ted, at the Fairmount Cemetery in Chatham, New Jersey.

Her entire family greatly mourns the loss of their very nurturing and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. As their Christian faith promises, they know they will be reunited with her, and that hope sustains them at their time of grieving.

Family and friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.