Josephine Jo M. Moncrief Dillard

Jo was born August 26, 1920 in Marlin, Texas, the daughter of Verdie Jolly Moncrief and Joseph Lee Moncrief. She had four older siblings, brothers Sydney Simmons and Gabe Simmons, and sisters Susan Gertrude Simmons Erskine and Augusta Jane Simmons Manning who preceded her in death. Jo was a member of Tallowood Baptist Church at the time of her death having joined the Tallowood family in 1993 and was previously a long time member of Second Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School. She had a loving, giving and compassionate spirit and served faithfully as a volunteer for 25 years at Sam Houston Memorial Hospital where she was also President and Parliamentarian of the volunteer’s organization. She also served as a supervisor of the “Blue Angels,” the hospital’s junior volunteer service. Upon the closure of Sam Houston, Jo continued her gift of service at Spring Branch Medical Center for an additional five years. She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Ira Lee Dillard and daughter, Susan Leigh Dillard of Houston, daughter Carol Muirhead and husband James, of Wichita Falls, grandson James D. Dillard and wife Joan, of Bedford, great-grandson Dillon James Dillard and great-granddaughter Katelyn Faye Dillard of Bedford, grandson William Muirhead, granddaughter Tamara Muirhead McGrath and several additional great-grandchildren. She also leaves her cousin she called "daughter,"Karen Gaspard and husband Lee, as well as her “children” she loved so much; Mary and Ed Coel, Glenda and Ed Hendrickson, Margie and Tony Gant; the family would like to thank Erica Gadison, Linda Rose and Beverly Ferringer for their kindness and care as well as the Prayer Ministry of Tallowood Baptist Church, The Reverend Lucrecia (Luchy) Littlejohn and the ministry of Christ Church Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and/or The American Heart Association.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas.