JoAnn Murphy Britsch

JoAnn Murphy Britsch 1/23/40 ~ 5/14/05 Completing a life of love and service for her family, church, students, neighbors, and friends, Jo Ann Murphy Britsch died at her home in Orem, May 14, 2005, of causes resulting from a fall while traveling in Eastern Europe. Jo Ann was born January 23, 1940, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Lee and Louise Murphy. Her early years were spent in Archer and Moreland, Idaho, but her family moved to Idaho Falls while she was in elementary school. While in high school she participated in Girls State and many drama productions. She graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1958, having received a scholarship to Brigham Young University. During her years at BYU she was active in student government and the Val Norn social unit. While in her senior year at BYU she met and married R. Lanier (Lanny) Britsch December 18, 1961 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of four sons and two daughters. She graduated in May 1963, and taught English at Provo High School and Freshman English at BYU. In August 1964 she received her M.S. degree in English and Education. For the next two years she taught English at Claremont High School in Claremont, California, while her husband pursued doctoral studies. From early childhood Jo Ann was an avid reader, almost consuming books day by day. Over the years she taught English composition part time at BYU and for two years as a full-time faculty member she taught an array of English subjects at BYU-Hawaii. Jo Ann always held one position or another in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Teaching was her favorite calling, but she also presided in various auxiliaries of the Church. From 1993 to 2001, she served on the Materials Evaluation Committee-the Correlation Committee-of the Church. During 2002-2003, she and Lanny served in the Honolulu Hawaii Mission with assignments at BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center. While there she served as an ordinance worker in the Laie Hawaii Temple. At the time of her passing she served as Gospel Essentials teacher in her Orem ward. Jo Ann loved art, especially water color painting. But she was a better critic and coach than artist and had wonderful taste in interior design. She passionately loved travel, eventually visiting 46 nations. That which is beautiful touched her most. A neighbor said of her, "She was always so thoughtful, kind, attentive, supportive, artistic, understanding, sympathetic, loyal, intelligent, wise and fun. She seemed to have no ego problems and was one of the most highly evolved people I've been blessed to associate with in my life." Jo Ann is survived be her husband, Lanny, of Orem; children, Carl (Jo-Lynne) of Houston, Texas, Catherine (David) Frantz of Charlottesville, Virginia, Curtis (Julie) of Pleasant Grove, Sheri of Honolulu, Hawaii, Randall (Rebecca) of Provo, and James ( Brittany) of Chadron, Nebraska; 15 grandchildren; and a brother, Donald (Rebecca) Murphy of Idaho Falls. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 19, 2005, at 11 a.m. in the Sharon Stake Center, 750 South 800 East, Orem. Friends may call Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the chapel. Interment in East Lawn Memorial Hills. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkerfamilymortuaries.com