Juanita Mavoreen Wagner Wolfe LeBlanc died Saturday, July 26, 2008, after five and one-half years in convalescent care. She lived 87 years, one month, nine days. Her favorite color was periwinkle blue. Her last car was a pickup truck.

Called Aunt Mave by her nephews and Mamu by her grandson - his childhood invention, she trained those who crossed her path to call her simply Jo.

Jo spent much of her youth perpetuating the image of the free-spirited, red-headed woman. But her mid-western work ethic, pragmatism, innate ability to organize, and personal generosity dominated her career as a military wife and devoted mother.

After many years of moves and short term residences from Alaska to Tennessee, she settled in the Riverside area where her son and daughter graduated high school and where she square danced and took an active role in the women's auxiliary of the local VFW. Jo was a veteran too and worked and retired as an employee of the Department of Defense at March AFB.

She and her daughter traveled extensively and Jo spent her retirement years living with Babs in Quincy, California, while Babs attended Feather River Community College, eventually earning a Masters at Cal-State Chico.

Jo's final exit was a long walk that began after the heartbreaking loss of her daughter to cancer and continued through the loss of her constant companion, Kellee the dog, whom she raised from puppyhood. Jo had good days and bad, and her memory was astounding until the end. The family scattered Bab's ashes in San Francisco Bay in December 2002. Per Jo's wishes, Tom, Judy and Jason will scatter Kellee's ashes and Jo's likewise.

Jo's words we'll always remember: "File it under miscellaneous, then you'll always know where it is." "That beats a poke in the eye with a hot stick." "Well, whoopity shit!" (index finger twirling)

Next time you open a beer, toast Jo.