Ida Jo Mcmurrain

Jo passed away Thursday morning December 12 after a recent surgery at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was married to her true love, Hugh for 55 wonderful years as they faithfully served the Lord together on staffs of various churches across the country including Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Missouri, Beaumont, Texas, and Dallas, Texas; for the past 42 years, serving Village Baptist in Oklahoma City. Jo was born in Nashville, TN to Henry E. and Gladys Felts Simpson where she graduated East Nashville High. She obtained her bachelors degree from Peabody College for Teachers (Vanderbilt) in Nashville where she received the Sullivan award selected by faculty to the most outstanding student. While raising her family and teaching school full time in Oklahoma City, Jo earned her Masters degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. She spent her teaching career using her special talents to mentor many young teachers in the Oklahoma City area. Her years spent at Apollo Elementary teaching developmental first grade were cherished. Her favorite time on earth was spent with her family and church. She had a love of music from an early age spending time as the piano accompanist for her middle and high school choirs and recently retired as the church organist after 34 years. Jo served as director of young adult ministry, coordinated women's ministry, and taught Sunday School classes even until her passing. She was a loving mentor, counselor and friend to many young couples. Our family is saddened at our loss, but we are assured through our faith in Christ we will see her again. Jo is survived by her husband Hugh, daughter Lisa Knowlton (Deke), son Allan (Jeanne) and grandchildren Kameron, Jackson, Dillon Knowlton, Connor, Trace McMurrain, Sean & Maddie Marshall and a large extended family and many recent and lifelong friends she dearly loved. Burial services will be at 9:30 am at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City with a memorial service at 11:00 am at Village Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. Memorial donations can be made to Village Baptist Church, 10600 N. May Ave., Okla. City, OK 73120 to the Jo McMurrain Memorial Fund for renovation of The McMurrain Center.