Jo Anne Gartman

Jo Anne Gartman, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died peacefully on August 25, 2023, at the age of 94 in McAllen, Texas. Jo was born on October 14, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to her parents, Florence and Charles Thornton.

Following her father's death in 1935, Jo and her family remained in Oklahoma City until 1943, when she relocated to Winslow, Arizona with her mother. After graduating from Winslow High School in 1945 at 16 years old, she returned to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma A&M. It was there that she met Solomon Cossie Gartman, Jr (Jay), and they married on January 25, 1948. Their first son, Charles (Chuck) was born in February 1949. Their only daughter, Debbie, was born in September 1952. And their youngest son, Daniel (Danny), was born in December 1953.

During her professional career, she spent time as a real estate agent, salesperson, and an administrative assistant for the pastor at FBC McAllen. After retirement, she continued to serve in her church as a speaker, choir member, and Sunday school teacher - both at FBC McAllen and then later at Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen. She was a member of the executive board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 2008 to 2013, serving for a total of 6 years and two full terms.

Jo was a woman of grace, strength, and determination. She approached life with a spicy and loving spirit, always devoted to her family. She was married to Jay until his death in September 2006.

Jo's passion for reading brought her immense joy throughout her life. She found solace and inspiration in the pages of countless books. She was a member of the Book Lovers club and was well known by the librarian at the Pharr Public Library. Of all the books she consumed over the years, her favorite book was the Bible, which she read daily faithfully until the very end of her life.

Jo is survived by her loving son, Chuck Gartman, and daughter-in-law, Connie Gartman, as well as her daughter, Debbie Stout, and son-in-law, Van Stout. She will also be dearly missed by her daughter-in-law, Lynn Gartman, and her cherished grandchildren: Brandie Hansen, Brittany Long, Lindsay Fogarty, Jonathan Hunter, Brooklyn Gartman, Stacie Hunter, Dani Gartman-Gonzales, Jay Ingram Gartman, and Vanessa Stout along with their spouses. Jo also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and a host of friends.

Jo was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jay Gartman, and her son, Danny Gartman. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister Rosalie Lowrie, her sister-in-law Mona Beth Reavis, and her brothers-in-law Bob Lowry and Fred Reavis.

A small memorial service will be held in Jo's honor at Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, TX, on Friday, October 6, at 10 a.m. This service will be attended by her family and close friends, who will gather to celebrate her life and the impact she had on those around her.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jo's memory to Calvary Baptist Church, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Wayne McAfee Memorial Scholarship Fund for graduate students in the school of Christian Studies at Howard Payne University where all three of her children attended, or the Pharr Public Library. These organizations held a special place in Jo's heart and supported causes she deeply cared about.

Jo Anne Gartman will be remembered as a loving and devoted woman, whose presence brought joy and inspiration to all who knew her. Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of those she touched.