Emma “Jo Anne” Brown (Grandma) returned to our Heavenly Father on May 27, 2019. She was born on June 22, 1934 in Thatcher, Arizona to Richard “Andrew” and Marjorie Worden. Jo Anne married Ray Brown on July 5, 1952 in Globe, Arizona. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple on April 10, 1953.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her younger brother.
Jo Anne grew up in Arizona, a place she never lost her love for. She was known from a young age for her exceeding love of her own family including her grandparents, and especially her Grandma Posey. Her mother would often keep her tied to the clothesline, so she couldn’t “escape” home to her grandmother’s house.
Jo Anne also enjoyed horseback riding on her horse, Babe, as a young girl. She loved helping her mother with the household chores, especially the dishes and ironing. She also helped her family by working as a teenager at a local soda shop which she recalled experimenting mixing new flavors together and reflects that they must have been terrible, but she thought they were just perfect.
Jo Anne met Ray while he was working as an Assistant District Forest Ranger in Payson, Arizona. After being married in 1952, they lived in New Mexico and Colorado for Ray’s job transfers, and then ended up transferring to Juneau, Alaska in September 1962 where they raised their family over the next 18 years.
During their years in Alaska, she enjoyed family picnics (especially on Mother’s Day, the one day it never seemed to rain in Juneau), and trips into interior Alaska, especially to Denali National Park. The family enjoyed several fun camping trips together where Jo Anne earned the nickname “Eagle Eye” since she was so adept on spotting moose, bears, caribou, Dall sheep and on one occasion, a wolverine.
She was an excellent homemaker. From making sure the home was always warm, and the doors gently shut, to most importantly, tending to her children, she was ever present. She accomplished this even while working for the Air Force Communications Service, receiving a Certificate of Recognition for her work in 1970. Additionally, she was known for preparing the best homecooked meals and awesome desserts for the family. Her desserts were so amazing that they often sparked spirited eating contests between her two sons. And no matter what, she never went to bed or left the house without all the dishes washed (or rewashed if Ray had attempted this chore first).
In 1980, Jo Anne and her husband moved with her youngest son to a cattle ranch in southwestern Colorado. She enjoyed the ranching lifestyle and often helped with the delivery of calves and moving the cows from pasture to pasture. But what she enjoyed even more, was spoiling her grandchildren— all those that visited and all those that were also growing up on the ranch. There was always an abundance of fudge, divinity, and all goodies near and dear to grandchildren. She collected cookie jars that the grandchildren always imagined were full of cookies.
In 2004, she and her husband moved to southcentral Alaska with her youngest son and his family. She continued her loving role of wife, mom, and grandma here, especially as her grandchildren required “extra” guidance as teenagers as she shared her strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was a bright example of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ while serving as an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of her favorite callings was serving as a primary teacher throughout different stages in her life.
In January 2010, Jo Anne and Ray moved to Salem, Utah not too far from her oldest son and his family. Ray passed away shortly thereafter in March 2010. Her home was always a sanctuary to everyone, but especially her grandchildren, some of whom lived and often visited with her while attending college. No matter where she lived, the grandchildren and great grandchildren unanimously agreed that the water always tasted better at grandma’s house.
Jo Anne is and always will be a dedicated and loving wife, mom, grandma, and great grandma. Throughout her life she was an example of service to others, caring for her parents during their final years and also her husband before he passed away.
A family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at the Salem City Cemetery in Salem, Utah.
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