Helen Jo McGehee's Obituary
Jo was born December 11, 1921, in St. Jo Texas and died 96 years later on December 11, 2017, in Dallas, Texas. Jo was the youngest of Willie Eugene Hundley Parsons and William Calvin Parsons four children. She said they all spoiled her because she was the baby. Jos graduated from St. Jo High School 11th grade at age 17. She met Slayton Madison McGehee Jr. the love of her life at Church. They were happily married for 57 years. They had 2 daughters: Jo Carol was born while Slayton was a prisoner of war in Germany during WW II. Later Nancy Kay was born.Jo was always positive, enthusiastic, funny, full of fun ideas and common sense. She loved to help people, was generous with her time and resources and rarely showed down. For fun, she worked as a salesperson at department stores, in their offices. She enjoyed supporting her girls in all their school activities, band, drill team, musicals, church choirs and plays, contests, and shows. Jo loved and was loved by many friends at Lovers Lane Methodist Church for over 50 years in the Redus Bible Class.Jo and Slayton loved to square dance. For over 50 years with the Swinging Saints Club, they went to various states and camps enjoying square and round dancing. She had 55 fancy square dance dresses and hundreds of fun/ crazy square dance friends. Jo was raised during the depression and was very frugal. She loved to bargain shop and had hundreds of spectacular outfits with matching shoes and purses. She looked fashionable to the end. All the folks in the nursing home would comment on her looking so cute and sassy all the time.Jo and Slayton got to travel to several continents and loved it. China and Africa were her favorite places which reflected in her animal print clothes and Asian furniture and art.Jo is survived by 1 daughter; Nancy Kay McGehee Reeves, 5 grandchildren; Janet Prater Jessey, Travis Prater, Suzanne, Joel and Michael Reeves, 5 great-grandchildren; Huntington, Preston, Ashton Prater, and Isabelle Lindblade, and Zoe Reeves. And their dear spouses Robert Reeves, Brad Jessey, Jennifer Prater, and Erin Reeves.Jo was a beloved Mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother. We miss her but are happy that she is enjoying Heaven with her Savior Jesus, her husband Slayton and her daughter Jo Carol.Visitation will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, January 6, 2018, in Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. Burial will take place after the service and a reception will follow.
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