Jo Ann Shepard was born in Portales, New Mexico on September 12, 1943. After a valiant battle with cancer, she died peacefully on February 17, 2017. Her unbreakable spirit and joyful, positive attitude constantly displayed throughout her life and illness are an inspiration to all.

The daughter of a Methodist preacher, Jo Ann moved all over New Mexico and Oklahoma during her younger years. With her outgoing personality and radiant smile, she met and kept many dear friends at both Okmulgee and Will Rogers High Schools and at the University of Tulsa where she completed five semesters in Music Education before marrying Tom Shepard on June 1, 1965.
Jo Ann loved her family, music and collecting.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. In her own words, all she ever wanted to do was "be a mom." And she was exceptional at it. She was especially proud of her three grandchildren with whom she spent countless hours and generated several lifetimes of memories. Her church family was also extremely important and she made many life-long friends during her 40 plus years as a member of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.

She had an amazing voice. She was a member of her high school and college choirs, and sang with various groups and ensembles as an adult, especially those at her church. She sang at her daughter's wedding and the prayer over dinner every night.

She collected everything from nutcrackers and beanie babies to snowmen and cookie jars. She turned that passion into a part of the family business by opening Cookie Jars of Tulsa in the early 1990s. It remained in business until March of 2014.

Jo Ann will be remembered and loved by her daughter and son-in-law, Melony and Chris Woosley; grandchildren, Katherine, Zachary and Sarah Woosley; older brother and his wife, Bill and Barbara Harris; and younger brother and his wife, Jim and Janice Harris; and countless loving relatives and friends.

She is reunited in heaven with her husband of 49 years, Thomas (Tom) Shepard; daughter Suzanne (Shelly); and parents, Therman and Leila Mae Harris.

Services will be held at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 7903 E. 15th Street on Saturday, February 25 at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shelly Shepard President�s Distinguished Scholarship at Oklahoma State University by making payment to the OSU Foundation and designating "Shelly Shepard PDS" in the memo, and mailed to: OSU Foundation, PO Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233