Jo Ann Voorhies Powell of Langlois, Oregon, died May 8, 2017. In recent months she stayed with her daughter Janet Young in Grants Pass, where Jo Ann passed away peacefully in the loving care of Janet and her family.
Jo Ann was born July 31, 1932, in Roseburg, the only child of William Ernest Voorhies and Dorris Bayes Voorhies. The Voorhies family lived and farmed in Lookingglass, Oregon. Jo Ann grew up a busy farm child, on the banks of Lookingglass Creek and within walking distance of her grandparents' farm and Lookingglass School. Her character was formed in the company of her hardworking family and neighbors in the fields and orchards. Her spirit and Christian faith were formed at church and walking in the hills among the wildflowers, learning the ways of nature, a lifelong interest. There was calm and stability in the seasonal order of farm life that stayed with her always. Jo Ann's well-remembered experiences as a child in Lookingglass Valley were frequently recounted in stories later told to friends and family.
Jo Ann was an avid reader and an outstanding student. She graduated from Roseburg High School as Valedictorian of her class. She received an undergraduate and then a master's degree in education from Southern Oregon College. She spent 33 years as an elementary teacher in Roseburg, almost all of them at Rose School. She expected a lot of her students, but was always fair and kind. She recognized promise in children and gave extra help to those who needed it most. She was a favorite of many students, and was respected and liked by other teachers and staff. While a taskmaster when need be, she was also a jokester and serial prankster: Once while on a trip to Camp Hancock with a group of 6th graders she had a co-worker call her principal to casually mention they would be spending a day with the Bhagwan at nearby Rancho Rajneesh; it took a while for the frantic principal to realize he'd been had!
Jo Ann first met George Powell of Florida while he was on leave from the Army and visiting friends in Lookingglass. They dated and later George's proposal was accepted, but before they could marry George was gravely injured in a logging accident. Jo Ann spent most of a year helping nurse him back to relative health, though he was disabled for the remainder of their lives together. They married in 1954 and raised two daughters, Gail Ann and Janet Lee.
Jo Ann retired from teaching in 1987 and moved to Langlois soon after. Jo Ann was very active in the Langlois Community Church for many years, in Sunday School, playing the organ for Sunday Services and volunteering and then leading the Food Bank that operated from the Church. Seven grandchildren were a special delight; Jo Ann led hikes and beach walks, organized picnics, read books aloud and dispensed wisdom and good humor freely to all. She was as gung-ho as any camp counselor with her grandkids and was ready for fun at the drop of a hat.
Jo Ann was a person of extraordinary strength, honesty and integrity. She was old school all the way, in the best sense of the term.
She was preceded in death by husband George in 2011; and by granddaughter Shannon Young Zemanek in 2010.
Jo Ann is survived by daughter, Gail Ann Powell and her husband Kevin Davis of Portland, their two children Emily Davis and Collin Davis; and also by Janet Lee Young and her husband Paul Young of Grants Pass, and their children Matthew and wife Sara, Christopher and wife Chelsea, Lisa, Andrew; and by great-granddaughter Reiss and her father Tommas Zemanek, both of Salem.
A private memorial service is planned for the family.
(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on May 12, 2017.)
Jo Ann was born July 31, 1932, in Roseburg, the only child of William Ernest Voorhies and Dorris Bayes Voorhies. The Voorhies family lived and farmed in Lookingglass, Oregon. Jo Ann grew up a busy farm child, on the banks of Lookingglass Creek and within walking distance of her grandparents' farm and Lookingglass School. Her character was formed in the company of her hardworking family and neighbors in the fields and orchards. Her spirit and Christian faith were formed at church and walking in the hills among the wildflowers, learning the ways of nature, a lifelong interest. There was calm and stability in the seasonal order of farm life that stayed with her always. Jo Ann's well-remembered experiences as a child in Lookingglass Valley were frequently recounted in stories later told to friends and family.
Jo Ann was an avid reader and an outstanding student. She graduated from Roseburg High School as Valedictorian of her class. She received an undergraduate and then a master's degree in education from Southern Oregon College. She spent 33 years as an elementary teacher in Roseburg, almost all of them at Rose School. She expected a lot of her students, but was always fair and kind. She recognized promise in children and gave extra help to those who needed it most. She was a favorite of many students, and was respected and liked by other teachers and staff. While a taskmaster when need be, she was also a jokester and serial prankster: Once while on a trip to Camp Hancock with a group of 6th graders she had a co-worker call her principal to casually mention they would be spending a day with the Bhagwan at nearby Rancho Rajneesh; it took a while for the frantic principal to realize he'd been had!
Jo Ann first met George Powell of Florida while he was on leave from the Army and visiting friends in Lookingglass. They dated and later George's proposal was accepted, but before they could marry George was gravely injured in a logging accident. Jo Ann spent most of a year helping nurse him back to relative health, though he was disabled for the remainder of their lives together. They married in 1954 and raised two daughters, Gail Ann and Janet Lee.
Jo Ann retired from teaching in 1987 and moved to Langlois soon after. Jo Ann was very active in the Langlois Community Church for many years, in Sunday School, playing the organ for Sunday Services and volunteering and then leading the Food Bank that operated from the Church. Seven grandchildren were a special delight; Jo Ann led hikes and beach walks, organized picnics, read books aloud and dispensed wisdom and good humor freely to all. She was as gung-ho as any camp counselor with her grandkids and was ready for fun at the drop of a hat.
Jo Ann was a person of extraordinary strength, honesty and integrity. She was old school all the way, in the best sense of the term.
She was preceded in death by husband George in 2011; and by granddaughter Shannon Young Zemanek in 2010.
Jo Ann is survived by daughter, Gail Ann Powell and her husband Kevin Davis of Portland, their two children Emily Davis and Collin Davis; and also by Janet Lee Young and her husband Paul Young of Grants Pass, and their children Matthew and wife Sara, Christopher and wife Chelsea, Lisa, Andrew; and by great-granddaughter Reiss and her father Tommas Zemanek, both of Salem.
A private memorial service is planned for the family.
(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on May 12, 2017.)
Jo Ann Voorhies Powell of Langlois, Oregon, died May 8, 2017. In recent months she stayed with her daughter Janet Young in Grants Pass, where Jo Ann passed away peacefully in the loving care of Janet and her family.
Jo Ann was born July 31, 1932, in Roseburg, the only child of William Ernest Voorhies and Dorris Bayes Voorhies. The Voorhies family lived and farmed in Lookingglass, Oregon. Jo Ann grew up a busy farm child, on the banks of Lookingglass Creek and within walking distance of her grandparents' farm and Lookingglass School. Her character was formed in the company of her hardworking family and neighbors in the fields and orchards. Her spirit and Christian faith were formed at church and walking in the hills among the wildflowers, learning the ways of nature, a lifelong interest. There was calm and stability in the seasonal order of farm life that stayed with her always. Jo Ann's well-remembered experiences as a child in Lookingglass Valley were frequently recounted in stories later told to friends and family.
Jo Ann was an avid reader and an outstanding student. She graduated from Roseburg High School as Valedictorian of her class. She received an undergraduate and then a master's degree in education from Southern Oregon College. She spent 33 years as an elementary teacher in Roseburg, almost all of them at Rose School. She expected a lot of her students, but was always fair and kind. She recognized promise in children and gave extra help to those who needed it most. She was a favorite of many students, and was respected and liked by other teachers and staff. While a taskmaster when need be, she was also a jokester and serial prankster: Once while on a trip to Camp Hancock with a group of 6th graders she had a co-worker call her principal to casually mention they would be spending a day with the Bhagwan at nearby Rancho Rajneesh; it took a while for the frantic principal to realize he'd been had!
Jo Ann first met George Powell of Florida while he was on leave from the Army and visiting friends in Lookingglass. They dated and later George's proposal was accepted, but before they could marry George was gravely injured in a logging accident. Jo Ann spent most of a year helping nurse him back to relative health, though he was disabled for the remainder of their lives together. They married in 1954 and raised two daughters, Gail Ann and Janet Lee.
Jo Ann retired from teaching in 1987 and moved to Langlois soon after. Jo Ann was very active in the Langlois Community Church for many years, in Sunday School, playing the organ for Sunday Services and volunteering and then leading the Food Bank that operated from the Church. Seven grandchildren were a special delight; Jo Ann led hikes and beach walks, organized picnics, read books aloud and dispensed wisdom and good humor freely to all. She was as gung-ho as any camp counselor with her grandkids and was ready for fun at the drop of a hat.
Jo Ann was a person of extraordinary strength, honesty and integrity. She was old school all the way, in the best sense of the term.
She was preceded in death by husband George in 2011; and by granddaughter Shannon Young Zemanek in 2010.
Jo Ann is survived by daughter, Gail Ann Powell and her husband Kevin Davis of Portland, their two children Emily Davis and Collin Davis; and also by Janet Lee Young and her husband Paul Young of Grants Pass, and their children Matthew and wife Sara, Christopher and wife Chelsea, Lisa, Andrew; and by great-granddaughter Reiss and her father Tommas Zemanek, both of Salem.
A private memorial service is planned for the family.
(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on May 12, 2017.)
Jo Ann was born July 31, 1932, in Roseburg, the only child of William Ernest Voorhies and Dorris Bayes Voorhies. The Voorhies family lived and farmed in Lookingglass, Oregon. Jo Ann grew up a busy farm child, on the banks of Lookingglass Creek and within walking distance of her grandparents' farm and Lookingglass School. Her character was formed in the company of her hardworking family and neighbors in the fields and orchards. Her spirit and Christian faith were formed at church and walking in the hills among the wildflowers, learning the ways of nature, a lifelong interest. There was calm and stability in the seasonal order of farm life that stayed with her always. Jo Ann's well-remembered experiences as a child in Lookingglass Valley were frequently recounted in stories later told to friends and family.
Jo Ann was an avid reader and an outstanding student. She graduated from Roseburg High School as Valedictorian of her class. She received an undergraduate and then a master's degree in education from Southern Oregon College. She spent 33 years as an elementary teacher in Roseburg, almost all of them at Rose School. She expected a lot of her students, but was always fair and kind. She recognized promise in children and gave extra help to those who needed it most. She was a favorite of many students, and was respected and liked by other teachers and staff. While a taskmaster when need be, she was also a jokester and serial prankster: Once while on a trip to Camp Hancock with a group of 6th graders she had a co-worker call her principal to casually mention they would be spending a day with the Bhagwan at nearby Rancho Rajneesh; it took a while for the frantic principal to realize he'd been had!
Jo Ann first met George Powell of Florida while he was on leave from the Army and visiting friends in Lookingglass. They dated and later George's proposal was accepted, but before they could marry George was gravely injured in a logging accident. Jo Ann spent most of a year helping nurse him back to relative health, though he was disabled for the remainder of their lives together. They married in 1954 and raised two daughters, Gail Ann and Janet Lee.
Jo Ann retired from teaching in 1987 and moved to Langlois soon after. Jo Ann was very active in the Langlois Community Church for many years, in Sunday School, playing the organ for Sunday Services and volunteering and then leading the Food Bank that operated from the Church. Seven grandchildren were a special delight; Jo Ann led hikes and beach walks, organized picnics, read books aloud and dispensed wisdom and good humor freely to all. She was as gung-ho as any camp counselor with her grandkids and was ready for fun at the drop of a hat.
Jo Ann was a person of extraordinary strength, honesty and integrity. She was old school all the way, in the best sense of the term.
She was preceded in death by husband George in 2011; and by granddaughter Shannon Young Zemanek in 2010.
Jo Ann is survived by daughter, Gail Ann Powell and her husband Kevin Davis of Portland, their two children Emily Davis and Collin Davis; and also by Janet Lee Young and her husband Paul Young of Grants Pass, and their children Matthew and wife Sara, Christopher and wife Chelsea, Lisa, Andrew; and by great-granddaughter Reiss and her father Tommas Zemanek, both of Salem.
A private memorial service is planned for the family.
(Obit published in the Roseburg, OR "The News-Review" on May 12, 2017.)
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