Jo Ann Land

Jo Ann Land, beloved wife, partner, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, went to be with our Lord on March 10, 2021. She was born in Yuma, Arizona, the daughter or Roland and Lois Beeler, and granddaughter of early Yuma pioneers John H. Beeler and Nellie May Horn. She is survived by husband Leo L. Land, daughters CherylAnn (Mark) Land Silberer and Janet D. (Kirk) Land Griffin, two grandchildren (Greg and Parker Griffin), and four great grandchildren (Jedidiah, Emery, Leo, and Greyson). She is also survived by her brother, Paul Beeler, and sisters, Lynn LaBrie, Carol J. Gallo McDaniel, Susan R. (Keith) Anderson, and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Yuma Union High School, Jo Ann worked for Farmers Insurance agency while in high school, Western Union telegrams, Airforce computer systems punch card operations, and learned valuable accounting skills while employed by Sterling sand and gravel of Fort Collins, Colorado. When Leo graduated from veterinary school in Fort Collins in 1962, she obtained her own “PHT degree” from Colorado State University for “Putting Hubby Through” veterinary school. She worked during that time to support her family financially making $1.25 an hour and encouraged Leo in his studies. JoAnn and Leo’s daughter, Janet, was born in Fort Collins. After graduation, they moved to Tucson, Arizona where their second daughter, CherylAnn, was born. Upon their return to Yuma, Jo Ann worked as payroll clerk and assistant to the Disbursing Officer for the Marine Corp Air Station from 1966 until September 1972.

Leo and JoAnn opened CVC (Chaparral Veterinary Clinic) in 1972 and JoAnn dedicated her professional life to their CVC partnership serving as business manager and bookkeeper for 47 years. Jo Ann enjoyed teaching business skills to Clinic employees and DECA (Distributed Education Clubs of America) high school students. JoAnn assisted with general practice management, oversaw the front office, managed financials, assisted with emergencies and surgeries, and cleaned kennels when needed. She loved her job, clients, and most of all being with Leo at work every day.

She enjoyed coaching her girls and nieces to be wives, mothers, homemakers, hard workers, and role models for future generations. JoAnn participated in the Apadenska Camp Fire group (1952) and the Ji Jinx Club of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (1952). In the 1970s, she was a Girl Scout troop leader where among other activities she staged practice campouts in her backyard including campfires and full service latrines. She enjoyed planning the program, training her girl scouts, and singing songs. She was forever encouraging and saying “with hard work and determination you girls can accomplish anything you set your mind to.”

JoAnn enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing, gardening, beach combing, fishing, playing piano and autoharp, photography, rosemaling, and various other arts and crafts. She won many purple, blue and red ribbons throughout her life for her entries in the Yuma County fair. She was a life-long learner, always eager to learn something new, and frequently attended courses at AWC (Arizona Western College) when she found a new interest she wanted to learn about and master.

JoAnn and Leo were partners both on and off the clock. They were active members of the Southwest Bow Hunters club. She was an excellent archer often scoring higher than the younger and male archers and winning many top awards over the years. She was an excellent bow and firearm shooter who enjoyed target practice, camping, fishing, and hunting quail, deer, and elk with Leo, friends and family.

JoAnn is a member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and contributed to several charities including St. Jude. The faith, grace, and compassion she extended to friends and family was remarkable. She cared for her and Leo’s parents in their later years and supported them when they needed through their lives and thereafter.

What we will miss most are Jo Ann’s strength, her beauty, beautiful smile, the love and care she showed to Leo as his lifelong partner of 70 years, and her outstanding business management and organization skills. She continued to organize her and Leo’s affairs, in support of family, up to her last day on this earth. She was a lifelong partner to Leo who never stopped thinking of him and others.

Graveside services will be at Johnson Mortuary and Desert Lawn Memorial Park on Tuesday March 23, 11 am.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

he leadeth me beside still waters.

He restoreth my soul;

he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his namesake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil;

for though art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Though, prepares a table for me in the presence of mine enemies;

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

The blessing of the Lord be upon you;

we bless you in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 129:8