JoAnna Priest Grable

Jo Anna Yates Priest was born on June 25, 1947 in Washington, D.C. (now Takoma Park, Maryland) to John Andrew and Florence (Eggen) Priest. She had one sibling, her older brother, Sewell Eli Priest. JoAnna had a very happy childhood with loving parents and several cousins and school friends to whom she remained close throughout her life.

She attended Trinity Episcopal Church, where she later taught Sunday school. JoAnna graduated from Coolidge High School in 1965, where she was a cheerleader. She started baton twirling at a young age and loved being a majorette. She had fond memories of marching in the Takoma Park parades.

JoAnna married her first husband, William “Bill” Matson, at age 20 in 1967. They divorced a few years later and remained amicable. She made sure that her children never felt a separation of the two families. JoAnna married her second husband, Michael Grable, in 1989, and they were happily married for over 35 years until his death in 2025. They both treated her former in-laws as their own family.

JoAnna lived her life based on love, acceptance, and empathy. She was a devoted young mother of humble means but who managed to never leave her children wanting. She was always present for them, providing unconditional love and support. For them she sewed handmade Halloween costumes and helped them create a tradition of homemade cookies & gifts to give as Christmas presents to family. She created a lifetime of childhood memories for her son and daughter in the two-bedroom, one-bath apartment that she and her children shared with her mother (and a succession of guinea pigs).

JoAnna felt very fortunate to find her federal government career in her 20s. She started working for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Fisheries Enforcement in 1976 as a clerk-typist, quickly rising to head secretary. Management recognized her competence, work ethic, intelligence, and potential for professional growth and selected her for the Upward Mobility Program, where she trained as a Fisheries Enforcement Officer, including the use of firearms. She often boarded fishing vessels to ensure compliance with Fisheries regulations. She moved to the NMFS Financial Services Division in 1979 and retired in 2008 from NMFS Headquarters as Grants Specialist.

JoAnna had a youthful energy and spirit. She looked and acted young for her age. At 60, she began harp lessons and became a Certified Music Practitioner through the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP), providing live therapeutic music for the healing process and the life/death transition. She started hand dance lessons in her early 70s, becoming a beloved member of her Simply Swing hand dance community and even an instructor. As late as March 2026, even after she was no longer in remission, she took horseback riding lessons.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were especially lovely because of her efforts and were hosted at her house. All 35+ years of marriage, she and Mike hosted a Christmas Eve party. It wrapped up with Mr. and Mrs. Claus handing out gifts to everyone. She was the reason that all events throughout her children’s lives, especially birthdays and holidays, felt special. It was the little things she knew mattered-- like trimming the tree while singing along to the “John Denver and The Muppets” Christmas album. Easter always meant hunting for eggs and her treasure hunt with a string of clues that led to the Easter baskets.

A devoted grandmother, she so loved all of her grandchildren. She was fully present in their lives-- always a big hug, always beaming with pride over them. “Grandma” never missed her grandsons’ sports games, from youth sports through high school. And, boy, did she brag about them.

JoAnna was a dedicated member of the choir at Ascension Episcopal Church in Gaithersburg and a member of their weekly book club. She loved hosting gatherings at her home and meticulously planned every detail so that everyone fully enjoyed themselves. She started a daily family Wordle group that she kept going as long as her health allowed.

JoAnna is survived by her children, Wendy Matson Bergonse and William “BJ” Matson; her brother, Sewell E. (Marka) Priest; and her grandchildren, Kirby, Brody, and Matteo.

She also leaves behind Guinevere (Timothy) Sasser and their daughter Christiana, Gelind (Duncan) Johnston, Gerry (Wendi) Grable, and Megan Grable and her sons, Jack and Charlie. JoAnna considered all of Mike’s grandchildren to be her own grandchildren.

JoAnna was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Lee Grable, by her parents, and by many (many!) rescue dogs.

A visitation will be held Thursday, November 12, between 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held Friday, November 13, at 11:00 a.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 South Summit Ave., Gaithersburg, MD. Reception to immediately follow.

Flowers can be sent to:

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20904.