Jo Nita Nash, better known as “Momma Jo”, was born to Dan Wilmer Hancock and Offie Juanita Blanton Hancock on November 12, 1938. She joined our Heavenly Father on February 21, 2022.
Jo Nita was born in a small farm home in the Blanton Chapel community near Leonard, TX. She lived a big portion of her life in her birth community. Mrs. Nash attended Leonard School District and was always an over achiever in school. She continued to remain close to her high school classmates throughout her entire life. Mrs. Nash graduated near the top of her high school class early due to her academic success and then attended East Texas State University in Commerce, TX, known today as Texas A&M Commerce. There, she graduated with a Master of Education which started her almost 40-year passion as a teacher. Still to this day, students remember her as their 4th grade teacher in Bonham, TX where she spent most of her teaching years. Her vocabulary and penmanship were remarkable.
After she began her profession as an elementary teacher, Jo Nita met her husband, Robert “Rob” Euell Nash. Jo Nita was a devoted wife until his death in 2001. They had one son, Robert Joel Nash. She remained very involved in the Blanton Chapel Church where she played the piano and taught Sunday school. She was a devout Christian and an avid studier of the Bible in which she knew well. Her passion for the creative things in life never ceased. She loved art. Painting, writing, drawing in pastels, ceramics, and just whatever crafts she could get her hands on, she was good at. Jo Nita was a member of the Eastern Star organization through adulthood and was very devoted to their program.
Not only was she a worker, but she was also a good mother and grandmother. Her son Robert “Joel” Nash was her pride and joy. He never quite left home and when he did, he lived next door. Jo Nita spent her time off helping the grandkids learn art, complete schoolwork, develop a love for reading, and so much more. She took time with them. Her attentiveness and thoughtfulness to them will never be forgotten.
Jo Nita is preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Juanita Hancock; and her husband Robert Nash. She is survived by her brother Blanton Hancock and wife Martha of Leonard, TX; sister, Freida Riley and David of Wolfe City, TX; son, Joel Nash and wife Amber of Dodd City, TX; grandkids, Daniel Nash and wife Amanda of Denison, TX; Austin Nash of Waxahachie, TX; Dakota Holder of Lubbock, TX; Esperanza Nash and wife Tiffany of Aubrey, TX; Angelus Banaszak and husband Stephen of Trenton, TX; Ethan Barnard of Dodd City, TX; Emaree Weeks of Dodd City, TX; and Ella Jo Nash of Dodd City, TX; and great grandkids, Andraya Barber of Denison, TX; Baelynn Nash of Denison, TX; and Carstyn Nash of Denison, TX; nephews Matt Riley, Timothy Hancock, and Michael Hancock; along with multiple other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home in Leonard, TX at 9:00am until 11:00am followed by a graveside service at Burns Cemetery at 11:30am. Pastor, David Riley, will be officiating the service.
Pallbearers for Jo Nita’s service are Ethan Barnard, Daniel Nash, Austin Nash, Dakota Holder, Matt Riley, Stephen Banaszak, Travis Hancock, and Brett Wren.