Jo Brown

It has been a month of celebration for Jo Brown – her 95th Birthday party, Thanksgiving with her family, learning of a new great-grandchild on the way, unwrapping Christmas ornaments and her treasured Angel collection, Christmas shopping for the Great-Grans and a dinner "party" on December 7th at the Austin Country Club, remembering the wonderful times she and her husband Dub Brown had there, and remembering his birthday the next day. Hers was a celebrated life, full of joy and laughter, rich with family and friends, and characterized by her genuine interest in other people and an observant eye that never missed a thing. On December 11, 2014, she passed away, just as she had lived, with grace and dignity. Her family celebrates the gift of her life and the example she has given us for a life well lived.

Born November 8, 1919 in Hillsboro, Texas, Wilma Josephine Hunt was the 6th of seven daughters born to Willie Andrew Hunt and Fannie Mae Peadon Hunt. A child of the depression, Jo found joy in simple things and learned, and mastered, the fine art of frugality. She understood that not being wasteful was really about respect, and that re-use was just good common sense, long before it became fashionable. She probably holds the record for how many times you can use a piece of aluminum foil. She was a cheerleader at Hillsboro High School, excelled at "declamation", had a fiery red-headed spirit and loved to dance!

She met W. C. "Dub" Brown in 1937 at a dance in Ennis, Texas. He wore a white Palm Beach suit and with his tan she thought he looked like a Greek God, and she said he was the best dancer she ever knew. Three years later, she was working in Dallas at the Delta Airlines office in the Lobby of the Adolphus Hotel. On her lunch hour, waiting for the light to change at Akard and Main, she saw Dub coming across the street. They had lunch, and so began a life together that spanned over 60 years. They married in Dallas on July 15, 1941, survived the war years, had three children, travelled wherever Dub wanted to play golf, and danced all along the way. It was a wonderful life.

Her choice in life was always to see the positive, to find the good in everything. Her curiosity and ever observant eye found stories and beauty everywhere. She loved sunrises and sunsets, the formation of clouds, the movement of the pecan tree branches outside her window, the flight of birds, and small children playing. As a young wife and mother, she loved gardening, flower arranging, sewing, and making a beautiful home for her family. Her view of the world was always "lovely."

Jo and Dub's move to Odessa, Texas in 1956 opened a new chapter in their lives. Red dirt and tumbleweeds replaced the green grass and azaleas of Dallas, but ever the optimist, Jo took up the challenge. Her days were filled with making prom dresses and petticoats for Beverly and Judy, cub scouts and little league with Bill, garden club, playing Bridge, the First Presbyterian Church, volunteering for the "Odessa Beautiful" campaign, and dancing with Dub at the Odessa Country Club. They made life-long friends and raised their family in the Land of the High Sky, where, much to her delight, the sunsets were spectacular.

Jo and Dub moved to Austin in 1964, where Dub headed the Real Estate Loan Department at City National Bank, which later became First City National Bank. For almost 40 years their lives were full of being part of the Austin community, creating life-long friendships, travelling, golf, family weddings, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. When Dub passed away in 2002, Jo lost the love her life and her dancing partner.

She has been a resident at Westminster Manor since 2006, where she served on committees, enjoyed playing Bridge, Fan-Tan and other games after dinner with her many friends. She always had a kind word and a smile for everyone who lived or worked there. The family is very grateful to all of the staff who provided a happy, safe and caring home for her during the last eight years. To all of her friends there, she truly loved you all.

Jo's greatest gift was her genuine interest in other people. Never calling attention to herself, she always focused on someone else. She learned, and remembered, the life story of every person she met. She was fun to be with, and had a way of making everyone else feel comfortable, cared for, and loved.

This gift was put to good use shortly after they moved to Austin and what better place for people skills than the Texas Legislature. For 17 years, Jo was the secretary and "gatekeeper" for one of the most influential politicians in the Legislature, Bill Heatly, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. She was the calming force, always gracious and charming to everyone who came to their office, whether constituents, lobbyists, government officials or university presidents. And she learned all their life stories. In a world of high pressure politics, she was gentle, kind, respected and well loved. For 17 years she called him Mr. Heatly and he called her Mrs. Brown, and they retired together in 1983.

Like Jo, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock was from Hillsboro, and she also knew him through her years at the Capitol. So when The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum opened in 2001, Jo was one of the first volunteers. She was also a long-time volunteer at the Austin Diagnostic Clinic. Jo and Dub were early members of Covenant Presbyterian Church, and members of Austin Country Club. Their years living on the golf course at Lakeway were some of their happiest times, and they formed many special friendships.

Strong-willed and strong of faith, she loved most of all her family. She has been our rock, our role model, our history, our future and our collective memory. Her memory and spirit will be with us forever.

Wilma Josephine Hunt Brown was the last of the Hunt sisters: Lillian Olive Hunt Jablonowski Spross, Dorothy Faye Hunt Patterson, Annie Isabella Hunt Davis, Doris Elizabeth Hunt, Mildred Lucille Hunt and Katherine Jane Hunt Goodwin. Her love of family stories inspired Jo and her sisters to research and document their family history, resulting in four volumes of genealogy titled "Heather to Bluebonnets."

This record of our family is not only a gift to us, but also to her nieces and nephews who shared a special bond with their Aunt Jo.

It is with loving hearts that we remember and honor our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Children and spouses - Beverly & Gene Ross, Judy & John Bush, Bill & Karen Brown, all of Austin

Grandchildren and spouses – Robb Bush, Jason & Jenifer Bush, Courtney Brown, Travis & Carrie Brown

Great Grandchildren – Julia Bush, Jaron Bush, Jack Bush, Joey Bush, Violet Jane Bush, Lucas Brock, Cole Brown, and Caden Brown

Services for Jo Brown include visitation at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 Lamar Blvd. on Sunday, December 14th from 6:00-8:00pm. A memorial service and reception to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, December 15th at 2:00pm at Harris Bell Hall at Westminster Manor, 4100 Jackson Avenue, Austin, Texas. Complimentary valet parking provided.

Remembrances may be made to The Rise School of Dallas, 5923 Royal Lane, Dallas, Texas 75230, in honor of her great granddaughter and namesake Josephine "Joey" Bush.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed" – Proverbs 31:28