Jo Ray Sheffield Morris went to be with her heavenly father on December 3, 2022 at the age of 81. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in Denton, Texas. Jo was born October 3, 1941 in Lane, Oklahoma to Ray and Josephine Sheffield.
She had a wonderful childhood with her sister Alice and brother Herbert in Lane, Oklahoma. She shared this story many times with the family. When she was young girl living in the country, she read over 100 books in one summer telling everyone all the places she had gone. Her imagination and drive had started at a very young age.
She married her high school sweetheart, Don James Morris on February 12, 1959. They were married at the First Baptist Church in Lane, Oklahoma and had 2 children, Donna Alesia Ricketts and Dawn Angelia Theis. She had 2 grandchildren that she dearly loved, Amy and Preston. She took her grandmother job seriously and she was the best grandmother anyone could have been blessed with. Amy shared that Mama Jo played a large role in every part of her life throughout childhood, college, to just recently celebrating the arrival of her son, Jackson this year. Jo was very excited to be a GG (Great-Granny) and she took the promotion very seriously. She loved saying good morning to Jackson and checking his tootsies to make sure his feet were warm. Jo Ray and Amy couldn’t get over how cute Jackson’s feet were or how he acted just like Don when it was time for a bottle.
Jo Ray fulfilled one of her dreams being the owner and buyer of 2 dress shops, Jo’s Fashion in Antlers, Oklahoma and Jo’s Boutique in Sher-Den Mall Sherman, Tx. She loved fashion and she loved helping women find the perfect outfit. She enjoyed fashion, decorating, painting, gardening, quilting, travelling, anything history related and her family. Jo’s Christian faith and love for her family was unmeasurable, there wasn’t anything she would not do for them. Jo lived her life with great integrity, and you could always count on her to do the right thing, and to never leave your side. She was the one you could talk with about anything. She had a very special way of lifting your spirits and refilling your soul with love, courage and strength. She had the best pep talks, and they will be greatly missed. She was the most wonderful caregiver to both Don and her mother and took great honor in making sure they were both taken care of.
Jo Ray lived her life to the very fullest and trusted in her Lord and Savior to lead the way, and even with Stage 4 Cancer she survived a hip surgery and COVID Pneumonia and she never worried about her diagnosis, because she trusted in God’s perfect plan. In October Jo Ray celebrated her 81st Birthday with a wonderful birthday party, with her favorite cake, buntinis, dinner from Cracker Barrel, flowers, balloons, shared with family and friends. She leaves us with a Legacy, she is our example to follow. To do the right thing, and to love Family and Friends unconditionally.
We want to give a very special thank you to Jo Ray’s nursing team, Casey, Justine, Janie, Amanda and Debra for helping to take care of Jo Ray and providing her with the care she deserved and for loving her and our entire family. Every single person who helped support our family during this very long path was a true angel on earth and we are beyond blessed to have each of you be a part of our family during this journey. Mama, Mama Jo, Granny, GG – We love you to the deepest depths of the ocean and we will miss you until we hug your neck again, and we thank you for loving each of us with your whole heart and we will spend the rest of our lives making you proud and carrying on your legacy. We love you always and forever.
Jo Ray’s life was a living example of a few of our favorite Bible verses: Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving on another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”, Psalm 48:14 “That this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”, Revelations 2:10 “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Graveside services for Jo Ray will be 1 PM Friday December 9, 2022 at Oddfellows Cemetery in Antlers, Oklahoma with Brent Franks officiating.
Services are under the direction of Serenity Funeral Service in Antlers, Oklahoma.