Jo Ann Hannah (Gandy)

Jo Ann Hannah (nee’ Gandy) passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 after a brief illness.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 2 PM at the First United Methodist Church of Cleburne. Private interment at Laurel Land Cemetery will be held at a later date.
Jo Ann Gandy was born on October 31, 1935 in Wewoka, Oklahoma to Ollie Roy and Frances Gandy. As a little girl, her family moved frequently because of her father’s work in the oilfields in Texas and Oklahoma. The family finally settled in Healdton, Oklahoma, where she finished her schooling, graduating in 1954 from Healdton High School.
She graduated from the University of Oklahoma (’58) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Home Economics. While at OU, she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Hannah, They were married on August 21, 1957 in Wichita Falls, Texas. After graduation, they settled in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Unable to find a teaching job, Jo Ann went to work at a local dress shop and discovered that she had the ability to sell.
They moved to Rankin, Texas in 1959. Jo Ann taught Home Economics at Rankin High School and was active with the Girl Scouts in a leadership role. While in Rankin, she gave birth to her first daughter Lynda. Then there were moves to Seagraves and Monahans, Texas as Bob’s career in the oil business progressed. In 1965, they moved to Midland, Texas where they spent the next 10 years. While there, she gave birth to her second daughter, Lee Ann. She was a stay at home mom raising her daughters and participating in school and civic activities.
In 1975, the family moved to Fort Worth, Texas. Jo Ann drove by a piece of vacant land one day. There was a sign posted announcing the building of Hulen Mall and Sanger-Harris. She announced that she was going to work there as soon the store was built. She was a charter member of the sales staff when Sanger-Harris opened in 1977. She worked in various departments and finished up her career in the cosmetic department.
In 1983, Bob accepted a new position with another company. They relocated to Houston. Over the next 10 years, they moved back to the DFW area and back to Houston again. When Bob retired, they moved to Rockport, Texas and lived there for several years and made one final move to Cleburne where they spent their remaining years.
She had many interests. She was an excellent gourmet cook, talented interior decorator, a fair painter, and an excellent seamstress. She was also an avid cat lady who had many cats during her life and adored them all. In 1990, she discovered her love of quilting. She was extremely talented and many of her quilts won many local, national, and international awards. Her quilts were on tour internationally and published in a book along with other quilters. She also donated her quilts for charitable causes.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband. Survivors include her daughters, Lynda Hannah-McNatt of Hurst and Lee Ann Erickson and her husband Joel of Burleson, her younger sister, Priss Byrd and her husband, Pete of Davis, Oklahoma, several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
The family would especially like to thank her friends, Sandra, Tina, and Mee for their friendship, support, and care of Jo Ann over the past few months.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society of North Texas.

You may view the obituary online at www.rosserfuneralhome.net