Jo Hill Ramirez

Jo Marie was born on September 29, 1938 to Audra Alice Jenkins and William Wallace Hill (Red) in Snyder, Texas. Her family relocated to Fort Worth, Texas where she attended Arlington Heights High School. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1960 with a degree in Education. She was also a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She married Rene Javier Ramirez of Hebbronville, Texas in January of 1960 and had 7 children. They later divorced in 1988.

Jo Marie was an educator/teacher in the Hebbronville Independent School District for 9 years, teaching English at the high school in town. She also taught in the Austin Independent School District for 22 years, teaching English at Lanier High School, Robbins High School and Crockett High School. She sponsored many organizations/clubs throughout her teaching career and loved to attend and support the school’s sports programs such as football, basketball, baseball and wrestling. She was also named “Teacher of the Week” many times, which showed the impact she had on her students.

Jo Marie had a passion for doing any work with a needle and thread. She made countless numbers of quilts, all by hand. It was her belief that they were never to be made on the machine. She also liked to needlepoint, knit, crochet, and to make clothes on the sewing machine, just like her mother Audra. She enjoyed reading books about mysteries, suspense, romance and history. Throughout her life she was passionate about going to her children’s and grandchildren’s games, activities, concerts, track meets, recitals, birthday parties and celebrations. She loved roses, just like her father, and flowers of all kinds. She liked to work on crossword puzzles and playing countless games. She loved to travel and had the opportunity to go to Mexico, the Bahamas, Barbados, Hawaii, London, Brighton, Stratford, Paris, and Rome with family and friends.

You could often always find her with a Diet Dr. Pepper in hand and cookies available to munch on. She was a good cook and provided constant meals for her army of children. She made breakfast every morning and provided numerous school lunches every day. She enjoyed baking, making pies, cakes, cookies and sweet desserts. One of her specialties was baking pan de polvo (a Mexican wedding cookie). Some of her favorites were pecan pie and hermit cookies “stashed away where nobody could find them.”

Jo Marie is survived by her children- daughter Teresa and husband, Rodney Castillo of Lexington; son Eric and wife, Suzy of Pflugerville; daughter Celeste Ramirez of San Antonio, son Alan (Bo) and wife, Tammy of New Braunfels; son Rene Mario (Taby) of Taylor; son Carlos of Austin; daughter Rikki Ramirez of Austin; and son Roger of Thailand. Grandchildren: Rene Elic, Riana, Roxanne, Miranda, Andres, Gabrielle, Mariana, Alan, Xavier, Eliamar, Larissa and Lorrane. Great grandchildren: Mia, Beau, Gaél, Atlas, Whitt, Ava and Mila. She is preceded in death by her parents Audra Jenkins Hill and William W. Hill and her brother A Jackson Hill.

We want to acknowledge our appreciation to all the caregivers at Brookdale Senior Living – North Austin. Your compassion, care and love were felt by our family and especially by our mother.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at their website www.alz.org.

Due to COVID-19, there are restrictions that are limiting attendance for funeral services, therefore, only immediate family members and close friends will be able to attend. Please join us in prayer from the safety of your home. You can share your stories, pictures and memories on the funeral home’s website.