Jo Ann Leone Newmyer

Jo Ann Leone Newmyer of Mead, Colorado passed away on March 29, 2017 at the TRU Care Center in Boulder, following a long decline.Jo Ann was born on September 13, 1933 to Arthur and Laura Boyd Anderson in St. Francis, Kansas. She lived with her parents and siblings on a farm, attended a one-room rural school, and graduated from St. Francis High School in 1951. She was a member of the First Christian Church in St. Francis.When she entered the College of Music at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Jo Ann was the College's first saxophone major. She played in the CU Marching Band (that did the half-time shows at football games) and in other student ensembles at the college.Jo Ann worked two jobs to help pay for college, and was an active member of the Valkyries, an independent women's social club. In 1955, she received a degree in Music Education.Having been taught to sew at the age of six by her elder sister, Barbara, she became an expert seamstress, making many of her own clothes, even her wedding dress. On September 11, 1955, she married Earl L. Newmyer in St. Francis. They made their first home together in Ogallala, Nebraska, where Earl was employed. Jo Ann began her teaching career there. She sang in church choir, and was a soloist in a community performance of The Messiah.Earl's engineering work took them to Denver in 1958, and to Livermore, California in 1960. While in California, Jo Ann taught school, part- or full-time. She became a strong advocate of early childhood education, and took graduate-level courses in that field.Jo Ann became interested in restoring and re-upholstering furniture. Pleasure in the success of initial, amateur projects motivated her to take Adult Education courses, and then to teach evening classes in that field for several years. When the family moved to Littleton in 1973, she expanded that activity to a profession, specializing in antiques, and continued teaching in Adult Ed. Her creativity and sewing and craft skills were invaluable aids in restoring and remodeling challenging pieces for clients. Customers were appreciative of Jo Ann's emphasis on quality and her attention to details, and many became close friends.After all of the children had matured and left home, the couple moved to Louisville in 1988 and built their final home in Mead in 1995.Jo Ann was a generous, devoted and supportive wife and mother and a skilled homemaker. She enjoyed sewing and making clothes for the family, hosting family dinners, and baking. One of her specialties was banana bread, of which she gave away countless loaves. She made friends easily, and kept them. She lived by a strong code of social behavior, and believed in the importance of family and community solidarity. She enjoyed life.She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather T. J. Rudder; sister Belva (Bill) Fuller; brother Wesley Anderson; and niece Peggy Smith.She is survived by Earl, her husband of 61 years; sister Barbara Ewing of St. Francis; sons Brett of Mead and Kyle (Kari) of Littleton; daughter Lisa (Jeff) Keil of Loveland; grandsons Taylor and Jason Sch nfeld and Alex Newmyer; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 20, 2017 at the Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, CO. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to TRU Care Center Hospice, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.