Jo Ann Carter

November 25, 2017 marked the first day of a long awaited reunion. God sent Jo Ann Pritchard Carter to Delmer and Alice Pritchard of Carnegie, OK on Jan 11, 1936. Jo Ann was soon joined by a couple of sisters, Mary Nelle and Evelyn. The girls grew and flourished in Oklahoma and Texas. They ended up in Kansas where Jo Ann met her beloved Melvin Carter. They were married Nov. 7, 1954. They brought 4 children in the world, Melvin Jr., Terri, Mark, and Sharanna. Anyone who knew Jo Ann knew that she loved her Jesus, He was never a guest in her home, He was always at the center of her entire life. Jo Ann was passionate about her Lord and her family. Jo Ann had a wonderful life! But, it was not devoid of heartache. She had to endure the loss of her first born son weeks after she herself had heart surgery. Her beloved husband suffered the ravages of Alzheimer’s. But, she stood steadfast by his side until God called him home. She handled her heartaches as she did everything else…with faith and humor. She was a progressive woman who embraced technology. Jo Ann loved “the Facebook”. Someone took her identity and created a new Facebook account in her name. When the thief posted she had remarried, she responded with the following: “This is when I was scammed. Haven’t found anyone who will marry me! I go up and down the streets begging but there you have it. I have requirements: He MUST BE A CHRISTIAN! He MUST be breathing! Hopefully he is rich! I married for love the first time and GOD gave me the very best (I still love you Melvin Carter but you went to heaven and left me here). If you find him don’t tell him I’m old and decrepit and grouchy and ugly and deaf and my teeth are falling out and I am as poor as the church house mouse!!” She also handled her second cancer diagnosis with the same faith. “I got my results back tonight, yes, it is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I will go to oncologist as soon as they can get me in. I am fine. Of course I want to live as long as I can but I want to see Jesus too. So for me it is a win/win situation, Whatever GOD’S plans are will be fine with me, Please pray for my children who will be the ones who have it rough. I want to live for my grandchildren because i’m getting another “crop” of greats with 1 great-great on the way and they ALL need me to tell them how to raise these little miracles from GOD. I LOVE YOU EVERY ONE!” She was a one of a kind. Her witness was her life. She taught strength, dignity, unconditional love, character, empathy, and integrity through a prism of humor and faith. Jo Ann was a devoted wife and mother. She was retired from UCA Bookstore. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Mayflower. Today we honor her and rejoice her heavenly reunion with loved ones who preceded her in death, her parents, Delmer and Alice Pritchard; her sister, Evelyn Hodges; her son, Melvin Carter, Jr.; and her beloved husband, Melvin Carter, Sr. She is survived by three children, Terri Carter of Springfield, MO, Mark and Tammy Carter of Jacksonville, AR, and Sharanna Nowicki of Euless, TX. She had 9 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Nelle and Joe Bunnell of Salina, OK. And that’s the way the ball bounces at the old Carter homestead. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at Griffin Leggett Conway Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral will be Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Mayflower. Burial will follow at Mayflower Cemetery. An online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggettconway.com.