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.