Jo Walker Obituary
Born on August 1, 1941 in Austin, Jo graduated from Austin High School and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She shared over 55 loving years with her dearest friend and partner, Carolyn-affectionately known as "C." Together, they embarked on countless adventures and cherished their decades-long annual participation in the Texas Renaissance Festival, where Jo showcased her extraordinary talent as a stained glass artist and mosaic creator in their shop Fantasy Glass. A gifted teacher and renowned local artist, Jo's work left an indelible mark on her community.
Jo's father was George Edward Smothers, and her mother was Catherine Lee Huck, granddaughter of Judge H.J. (Heinrich Joseph) Huck and Hannah Catherine Rogers. The Huck Family, after settling in New Orleans, established a shipping, lumber, and railroad enterprise which was instrumental in facilitating German migration into South and Central Texas through the port of Indianola. The Hucks later moved into Victoria, and Austin, Texas in the 1870s. Edgemont, the Huck family estate, was located on the land behind today's Camp Mabry spanning all the way to Mount Bonnell, where the Windsor neighborhood is now located. Jo was proud of her family's remarkable history, and she researched and authored an extensive family history and was published at an early age.
Jo's love of Coca-Cola and all things Disney were on display everywhere in her home, but it was her love affair with butter that drove her loved ones to fits with every discussion of eating healthy in her elderly years. More than happy to live life on her own terms, with a wry smile and a single raised corner of an eyebrow that said "that's just how it is." That's also Jo.
She was a remarkably strong yet soft, serious yet subtly hilarious, utterly unique woman. We will all miss her terribly.
Jo's remains will be interred in Austin's historic Oakwood Cemetery in the Huck family plot, where many past generations of Jo's ancestors have been laid to rest.
A celebration of Jo's life, loves, and personality will be announced.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Kimberley Hess
May 28, 2025
You were a good Friend many years ago
Kimberley A Hess
April 8, 2025
I was a friend to Joann and Carolyn buck
I will miss them
Kimberley Annie Hess
April 7, 2025
I worked with Jo Ann walker At the Renaissance
One year very talented woman
Becky Felter Burleson
March 2, 2025
Jo Walker, would claim me as her little sister. For many years this was spot in her life that I enjoyed. At one point Jo was edgy, funny, and someone I looked up to.
One of my most favorite stories was when we were making one of our many trips to Austin from Houston. We stopped for snacks. We never traveled without a dog, or a cat, or some other critter along for the ride.
She had put the gear shift in park and the apparatus came off in her hand.
OOPs she said. "then some other choice words." She rummaged through her tool box in the back of this 'beater work van' to find something to reattatch the gear shift. after we finished our snacks, I hear, I have an idea! get out of the Van. I am thinking I am not pushing this Van to Austin. She pulls out her 45 and begins to slam the butt of this gun on the the gear shift with all her strength. Then I hear... Okay ... that worked.
Being with Jo.... WAS ALWAYS unpredictable, and not always pleasant.
During another trip with, Miss Walker, she was in a hurry and was clocked going almost 100 mph on hwy 290. another trip in the White Dodge van, and 2 dogs and a cat. I can tell you I always wore a seatbelt with JO. we wer just coming out of Austin and almost to Manor. greatfully the police officer had to cross over the dirt to get to us. This gave Jo the great Idea she was going to outrun the police officer. So she decided to take a short cut.... Latter I learn she does not have a valid Drivers License.... GREAT here we go. another adventure with JO.! we went behind the High School in Manor then over to Webberville and up to Elgin. This added the hour we were trying to make up to avoid detection from the law enforcement. soon after this, Jo started to only travel at night.
Jo had passion in almost everything that she did. Good, full throttle in everything!
She had the need to collect. Music, CocaCola, Long Horn stuff, Clothes, Jewlery, frog stuff, pug stuff, dogs Samoyeds, and cats. Lets not forget MICKY MOUSE>
I am so glad she never had a child. I am sure she would name it Mickey or Minnie!
She was an artist! along with that came the flare of imagination and the passion for the perfection of Stain Glass.
If it was anything about Jo.. It was big and over the TOP!
She was ecelectic and like the old cat lady. At one point she had 15 cats, this is not a problem until a hurricane comes to town and you have cat carriers and boxes of cats in your van carring them to Austin to keep them safe. She and my sister packed the cats to Austin.. when there was not power at the house in Houston. My mother was so Livid! they stayed upstairs in one of the porch bedrooms. WILD. My sister would say... well that is JO!
As My sister and I got older and had children , Jo seemed to tone down. by this time Jo and my sister were in their early 60's She had a tough time adjusting to the pitter patter of children.. Her bitterness came out and this caused some interesting events. My son has dearly called her uncle JO. she would say... Jo... he said okay.... and every time he would see her he would say.... "JO? Who did you get mad at today?"
some how this would make her laugh. My son and Jo had a good relationship. although she never understood why he did not care for Mickey Mouse. She thought my parenting skill was missing something when I did not insist on him sharing her passion. I would say.. He is a boy... boys like bugs and trains and Star Wars. It was very confussing for her. We would laugh.
If she was to have children she would be what my generation would call a HELICOPTER MOM. She decided to care for my sister as her health started to deteriate. Jo was very attentive. She was relentless with her care. This was her Passion, her focus, and her charge in life. She was
superwoman, not to be challenged or questioned. That was JO.
With all the passion she could muster and all the gusto. although this is a good quality it did cause some problems. I think she ignore her own health, because she was so hooked on helping Carolyn (my sister).
Jo touched many lives for the good.
I know this is a difficult transition for her family members . I pray they find comfort in knowing that she did good in her life.
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Covert Family of Austin
February 1, 2025
Our prayers and condolences to Jo Ann Walker´s family and friends. She will be missed.
the Covert family
Bruce Pease
January 18, 2025
Love and prayers to Jo´s loved ones. What an awesome gal.
Texas Ren Fest
January 15, 2025
Goodness sakes, Jo. All of us have such affection for you and are devastated to hear of your untimely passing.
Years and years we set up our booths together, donned our raggedy medieval outfits, gossiped with and about each other, ate unhealthy foods, covered for each other, worked long, long hours, and sold our merchandise to revelers by the thousands there at Ren Fest in Magnolia, Texas.
Jo and C´s Shoppe #218 "Fantasy Glass" was always top of the line. We still have people ask about Jo´s stained glass works today and where they can find more of them. Now I guess we´ll just have to point up to the heavens and try to sell them somethin´ else!
See ya before too long pretty lady.
Watch over us.
Try to be nice to God and the Angels.
Hold us a few good booths, close to the music and food, with plenty of electrical outlets right there beside you.
With warm aching hearts,
Your Dear, Dear Friends and Family at Texas Renaissance Festival
Kevin Huck
January 14, 2025
My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Jo Walker´s family, friends, students, loves, pets, and especially those young people who cared for her so tenderly and joyfully in her final years and days. The depth of my grief is matched only by the now true and completely unexpected certainty I feel that I will for sure be seeing this lovely and wonderfully exciting woman again in my travels through God´s marvelous creation.
With All Our Love, Jo. Until we meet again
Devon Bazile
January 11, 2025
Jo, I will always cherish our time together. The memories we shared will forever hold a special place in my heart. Your kindness, laughter, and spirit made an unforgettable impact on my life. Though you´re no longer here, your presence will be felt in every cherished moment we shared. You will be remembered always, with love and gratitude.
Tattoo Hernandez
January 9, 2025
It was such a pleasure meeting you Ms Jo. Your comforting and sweet smile made me feel so at ease and comfortable thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful home with open arms just wished I had more time with you but your in a better place and not suffering God bless your soul for being such a sweet lady.... I'll keep your babies safe for u....love u
Aaron
January 9, 2025
We used to order lunch or dinner from Spicy Szechuan on Jefferson all the time. Jo had been in the hospital for a month when we called to place an order to come pick up and take back to the hospital. The owner and his wife are the kindest most beautiful people.
As I was wrapping up the order for the 4 of us, he said, "Wait a minute. How did you hear about us?"
I explained we order all the time for delivery at Jo´s home on Antone Street in Mueller. He was so excited. "I thought I recognized this order! How have you been? I´m so glad to hear from you!"
I shared with him that Jo was in the hospital but about to come home,e and we had all been craving the food from Spicy Szechuan, our favorite Chinese food in Austin. He looked at his app and was thinking. "It´s only a mile out of our service area. Can we bring it to you? We would love to see you guys!"
Tears are pouring down my face as I write this remark in your guestbook, Jo. The people who knew and loved you, really, really loved you. They sure did. And we all still do.
Barry Fee
January 5, 2025
I took Jo´s stained glass classes in college. She was smart as all get out. She didn´t like to waste glass. She didn´t want you to be late. She was amazingly creative, but also strict. She was efficient and precise. She gave students the freedoms to develop their own styles. She demanded a lot.
I always thought very highly of Miss Jo. Prayers and love to Jo´s family and friends. I will be sure to look up now and then. Heaven will soon be featuring some amazing new crystal and stained glass pieces hanging from the thunder tops above Texas before too much longer.
Bob Banfield
January 3, 2025
Deepest sympathy for Jo's family and friends. She was a real pistol and a joy to know.
Ash
December 31, 2024
You lived a long life and were loved by many! Heaven welcomes you with open arms!
Betty Jewel
December 29, 2024
Well Jo, you beat me to it again. I always cherished our visits, talks and shopping escapades as I know you did too. I would say I wish we had spent a lot more time together in these past few years, but your knees failed and my hips gave out and all we could do was phone, complain together and laugh. What a great friend. So much comfort you brought me.
Plenty more time is all we have left, dear love. I will meet you at the fence post there along the road by the turn into the gate. Try to put in a good word for me. With all my Love. BJ
Ruthann
December 28, 2024
I remember the first time I went with Troy and Ric to Jo´s for I think it was lunch. She made me feel so welcome. She was a sweet, sweet lady. She will be truly missed. RIP Jo.
Richard Allen Meredith
December 26, 2024
Troy Kelly
December 24, 2024
Jo and I came from different corners of the universe, practically, and somehow she and I really got each other.
I love that she was a band nerd, just like me.
I love how reserved she could be one moment, and completely outspoken the next, just like me.
In many ways our lives were very different, but I also feel like they were also surprisingly similar in some really significant ways, even though we grew up decades apart. She got me. I got her. We just did.
I love Jo's determination to keep the original labels on all her collectibles, and her admonishing eyebrow-raise when she'd see me peel the label off of something we just bought, like I was crazy but she was willing to hold her tongue this once.
I love her stubborn insistence that butter be on the table at every meal, and to heck with what her cousin and my husband Ric and I had to say on the matter. I'd think that she'd snack on thin slices of butter just to drive us crazy, but really she just loved the taste that much, which makes me laugh even more.
I love that Jo would dig her heels in when it came to who remembered what bit of family history correctly, eventually willing to split the difference of opinion. Ric and she would go around and around about whose bed was in what room in which house at what time, and my goodness it sounds bananas but they actually loved digging into the details because they were the only two people left who knew them first-hand (even if they often couldn't agree about who was exactly correct... sometimes you've just gotta call a draw).
I love her undeniable artistic talent, which would surprise you when you least expected it. Walking into a room where a piece of stained glass she created was catching the evening light just so, or rounding a corner to notice a small mosaic you hadn't noticed before rendered with a beautiful touch and eye to place every piece just so.
I love how she'd lift her eyebrows and her eyes would light up almost seemingly subconsciously when I'd say something ever so slightly funny, which felt really, really nice.
She had the most expressive eyes and dynamic eyebrows, did I mention that yet?
She had loves and obsessions all her own. Everything Coca-Cola and Disney, with a tasteful smattering of Western Cowboy flair to keep it all interesting. And it was ALL interesting. Jo was far too intelligent to be amused for long by anything that was less than objectively interesting.
Ric and I had a great time wandering around the Renaissance Festival the time that Jo sent us two tickets for us to come meet up with her. We'd all sit and talk behind her shop, Fantasy Glass, for a while, flicking mosquitos (so many mosquitos!) away while we chatted, then Ric and I would go wander off for a bit to experience a little of what Jo loved about RenFest. Rinse and repeat until the day was done. We had such a good time that Jo sent us 2 more tickets for that season, but life got in the way and we didn't make it a second time, though I wish we had. Time slips away like that.
For the rest of my life I'll probably think of Jo every time we eat Chinese food, most particularly beef and broccoli or egg drop soup (her faves).
The same when I look at stained glass. We have several pieces that we love, though none that Jo made. Even still, Jo is present in beautiful glass when I look at it now. She loved mosaic so much and had such a passion for it that she's just there when the light glows through ochre, plum, and mossy green.
I have a feeling that last sentence would have got me a look from Jo, like "who, me? Oh brother", and I find that perfectly delightful and perfectly Jo.
Jo was a really complex person. Perfectly imperfect, like all of us. She lived a very interesting life, and I'll always remember her. I loved her a whole lot and I hope she knows that even now.
Kay Burgin
December 24, 2024
We love you so much and my goodness we miss you so much honey.
Richard Allen Meredith
December 23, 2024
Jo, we miss you terribly. You got out of the hospital and were doing way, way better, getting stronger, with so many committed, loving medical professionals and Caregivers working to bring you all the way back. Then suddenly you were gone. Taken from us abruptly, "...like a thief in the night." God is good, and God is great, Jo. We love you with all our hearts. We will honor and cherish your memory, Dear Love.
Rachelle Marcello
December 17, 2024
Jo you will be dearly missed. This beautiful obituary is a testament to the legacy you have left upon your loved ones. Rest peacefully and know that we will meet down the road for a good cup of Jo or tea, whatever our spunky hearts desire. See you up there beautiful
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