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Obituary for JoJean Ross Southwick
JoJean of Littleton, Colorado. The last page has turned on the tale of JoJean Ross Southwick, 75, who returned to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 5, 2016, due to congestive heart failure. With various health challenging chapters on: breast cancer, a heart attack, heart surgeries and broken bones - a repeat heart valve surgery was the last chapter that she could not finish. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family, friends and many supporters carried her through her last days.
JoJean’s story began with her birth on October 9, 1941 on Galveston Island, Texas (BOI) to Joe Bailey and Billie Jo Ross. She has joined her loving husband, Larry Milton Southwick and her sister, Billie Kay Killion in heaven’s library. Her adventures continue through the lives of her daughter Ammie (Michael) Ringman of Littleton, Colorado, her son Andrew Southwick of Austin, Texas; three charming grandchildren: Emma, Bryce and Mitchell Ringman who filled her life with laughter and busy athletic pursuits. Other family members include: Alton Killion of Austin, Texas; Trish Knight of Amarillo, Texas; Rhonda Petruce of Lubbock, Texas; Donna Worden of Frederick, Oklahoma; and the Southwick branch of the family: Lloyd Jr. (Lynda) Southwick of Madison, Wisconsin; Judge Leslie (Sharon) Southwick of Jackson, Mississippi; and Linda Southwick of Winter Garden, Florida.
JoJean graduated from Port Isabel High School and joined the minority of women at Pan American College in Edinburgh, Texas where she studied education. She was fiercely independent and worked her way through college with a job as a typesetter at the local paper. She met and fell in love with Larry Southwick and the happy couple was married on August 29, 1964 and began a life together traveling the United States.
While Larry finished his studies at the University of Utah, JoJean began teaching to support them and would continue to teach various levels of school. She also held numerous jobs over the years including; a reporter, airline attendant, real estate agent but being a teacher was her passion. She mostly taught math and her last 20 years as a teacher were as part of the Xavier University staff educating freshmen on basic math. Once retiring she considered taking Calculus classes to keep her mind sharp.
Married for 50 years, Larry and JoJean raised their two dear children, Ammie and Andrew while changing scenery every few years with stops in Salt Lake City; Port LaVaca, Texas; Pasadena, California; New Providence, New Jersey; Moraga, California; Gillette, New Jersey and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over a 25-year span, they lived in 18 different homes, some briefly and others for as long as 4 years. They somehow settled in Cincinnati, OH to restore an aging historic mansion.
While the Ohio house maintenance was a full time job in and of itself, JoJean had many varied interests and if she didn’t have a book in hand, it was a Sudoku puzzle book. She especially loved visits with her grandchildren and could always be found snuggled with a four-footed canine friend. After the passing of Larry, she and Bailey settled in Littleton, CO to be near her grandchildren and their adventures in soccer, football, baseball and theatre plays. Recently, every meal was shared with her constant companion, Bailey, who will miss her dearly.
Please join us in celebrating her life on Friday, November 11, 2016 at 11:00 am. at Abiding Hope Lutheran Church, 6337 South Robb Way, Littleton, CO 80127 with a reception to follow.
A visitation will be held at Ellis Family Services on Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 11:00 am-1:00pm at Ellis Family Services, 13436 West Arbor Place, Littleton, CO 80127.
The family welcomes donations to honor JoJean’s passion for animals with a contribution to OutPaws Rescue www.outpawsrescue.com/donate-shop or memorial contributions can be made in her name to Abiding Hope Lutheran.
