JoAnn Howard Patray

Born in McAlpin, Florida on September 7, 1934, JoAnn grew up in Lake City, graduating from Columbia High School. After completing a bachelors’ degree in nursing from Florida State University in 1955, she began her nursing career at St Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville. She then moved to Gainesville to work at Shands Hospital and begin a masters’ degree in nursing. There she met Dr. James William "Bill" Patray, Jr. After a very brief courtship (one month), they were married in Lake City, Florida, on November 26, 1958.

JoAnn also earned an MS in Nursing and a PhD in Child Development from the University of Florida, and ultimately certified as a nurse practitioner (ARNP) while working and raising three children with Bill, an impossible feat if not for Jarutha "Ruth" DeSue, a beloved member of the family and second mother to the kids.

JoAnn was an associate professor at the UF Jacksonville campus for almost two decades. A mentor and source of i nspiration for many nursing graduates, she retired as Asst. Dean of Nursing and a recognized UF Professor Emeritus. During her time in Jacksonville, she was an active member of Leadership Jacksonville. After retiring from UF, she began work with Azalea Medical in Keystone Heights as a nurse practitioner and then as a member of Azalea’s Board of Directors until approximately 2013. She was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Keystone Heights.

A lifelong Christian, JoAnn last attended Advent Episcopal Church in Tallahassee. She was a former member of Keystone Community Church and attendee of Keystone Methodist Church in Keystone Heights.

Always artistic and creative with a special attunement to color, JoAnn created beautiful watercolors, stained glass, embroidery, clothing, and home and table decor. She was a fantastic cook and l oved cooking for others. Often these meals were tied to college football games during which she was a very vocal FSU fan. She demonstrated this same intensity cheering for UF, her second alma mater, except for the yearly FSU/UF showdown. Her effusive love for dogs -- notables being Honey, Max, Winston, Luigi and the fabled Luke -- was outdone only by the adoration she had for her grandchildren, great grandchild and to those young folks who knew her as Grandma JoJo. Another deep l ove--acceptable at any time for celebration or for commiseration -- was ice cream in any flavor, but particularly Jamoca Almond Fudge. It was a daily habit.

JoAnn was preceded in death by parents, Goff Ives and Juliette (Brannon) Howard; and husband of 42 years, Dr. James W. Patray, Jr.

She is survived by sisters, Emily Gail “Topsy” Sims (Bobby), Charlene Cappellini (Terry); brother, Goff Ives “Chip” Howard (Lynne); niece, Rebecca Emily Pfeiffer (Harrison); and nephew, Robert Joseph “Bob” Sims (Debbie). On Bill’s side of the family, she is survived by several brothers and sisters-in-law, and many very special nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by children, Briar Ann Parmer (Edward, deceased), James William “Jim” Patray, III, Dr. Elizabeth Curci (Ray); and family member, Ryleigh Cahill, MSN. She was inordinately proud (her words) of her grandchildren: Savannah Rose Kaszas, William "Jared" Parmer, McKalyn "Kylle" Cahill-Patray, Mary Elizabeth "Maribeth" Curci, and Raymond Alexander "Alex" Curci; her great-granddaughter, Willow Grace Kaszas; and, as “Grandma JoJo” of Juliette, Quincy, Rickson, AJ, William and Joey.

A memorial is tentatively planned for September 6, 2021 at Mandi's Chapel, Camp Weed, Live Oak, Fla.

Many special thanks from JoAnn’s family for the attentive, thoughtful care provided by the nursing and service staff at Harbor Chase, Tallahassee, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the University of Florida College of Nursing Dean’s Excellence Fund at https://bit.ly/3kmTJeT or Florida State University College of Nursing Scholarship Fund https://tinyurl.com/yy78f8a7 would be thoughtful considerations.