Johanne Walton Echols

Johanne (Jo) Echols, age 95 of Paducah, KY, passed away September 30, 2025. Born in Dallas, TX and raised in Marks, MS, Jo graduated from Mississippi State University from the School of Business. She was member of the Chi Omega Sorority and a cheerleader for the MSU football team. She worked several years for Union Carbide and later for Crawford Enterprises.

Jo was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for many years, and later, a member of First Presbyterian Church.

She was an active member of the American Contract Bridge League, having served on the Unit 223 Board and as Secretary for District 8. She was a lifetime member of the ACBL National and District Goodwill Committee, a certified bridge director and directed bridge games in her own club for over 40 years. As a registered bridge teacher, she taught free bridge lessons for many years and received several awards for her tireless effort towards encouraging both young and old to learn and play the wonderful game of bridge. Jo was a Gold Life Master, having accumulated over 4,000 master points in her bridge career.

She will be fondly remembered by those she cherished as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and by her treasured raccoons.

Jo is survived by her daughter, Karen Eschliman and husband, Dave of Rio Vista, TX; her son Rob Echols Jr., wife Lisa, three grandsons; Robert III, Alex and William and two granddaughters; Eliza and Kate of Columbia, SC.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Robert "Bob" Echols, her parents Allan Boyd Smith, Sr., and Bess Walton Smith, and one brother, Allan Boyd Smith, Jr. and his daughter, Llana Smith.

Her children would like to thank Michelle Gill, staff of Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail, Alpha Omega Hospice and Forever Young in Home Care for the wonderful care of their mother.