Jo Ann Clemons Obituary (1957 - 2024)

Jo Ann Clemons returned peacefully to her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 in Murray, Utah. Jo was born March 1, 1957 in Montgomery, Alabama, to Keith and Edna Merle (Brooks) Clemons. She was the fourth of six children. Her father served in the Air Force, so she lived in many locations throughout her youth, including Texas, France, California, Florida, Canada, Louisiana, Germany, and Tennessee. One of her interests when she was young was art and she became quite talented at drawing. She had a special love for cats and dogs and had many pets as a child, often taking in strays. She was a special friend to her brother Bill who was just a year older than her and they looked out for each other. Jo was a hard worker and liked to keep things organized. She graduated in 1975 from Kaiserslautern American High School in Germany. After high school she attended junior college business classes and worked as an office manager in Tennessee. Later she moved to Salt Lake City and got to know the nieces and nephew who lived there. They still have fond memories of the fun times they spent with Aunt Jo. In 1986, at the young age of 28, as she was walking home after a day at her job in medical records at the University of Utah Hospital, a truck/pedestrian accident in a crosswalk drastically changed the rest of Jo’s mortal life. She was left with the effects of severe brain injury, including the loss of her memory and partial paralysis. The doctors did not believe that she would live through the night, but she hung onto life with great tenacity and through hard work over time regained many abilities, and a limited capacity to be independent. Her mother was her best friend and teacher for the rest of her life, and Jo would not have recovered so much without her care and advocacy. Jo has accomplished many worthwhile things in the past thirty-eight years. She was still able to draw, and also learned to play melodies on the piano with her one good hand. She found enjoyment in reading about things in her encyclopedias, and she became expert at doing word searches. Most importantly, she was a loyal friend and a beloved daughter, sister, and aunt. She loved to help others. She was quick to show love and gratitude, and quick to apologize. Jo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has a testimony of her savior and his gospel. She served as a frequent temple patron during the time that her parents were temple workers in Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee, and in the past several years attended the Jordan River Temple in Utah whenever she had the opportunity. She loved to read her scriptures and often read them while she pedaled her exercise bike, as well as reading daily with her parents. Jo Ann is survived by her mother and her four brothers and sisters-in-law: Richard and Kathleen Clemons, William and Mary Clemons, Phillip and Leita Clemons, and Steven and Bess Clemons; and her sister Beverly Arnason, as well as 23 nieces and nephews, and many grand-nieces and nephews. We will all miss her hugs and cheerful greetings. She was preceded in death by her father. Jo’s family wishes to express their appreciation to all who have been friends to her through the years, especially many ward and branch members and caregivers. Jo’s life has been a great blessing to all the members of her family. We have rejoiced with her in her accomplishments and sorrowed with her in her trials. She will be sorely missed. A brief memorial service will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024, 7:00 p.m. at Sandy Health and Rehab, 50 E 9000 S, Sandy, Utah. Burial will be in the Cookeville City Cemetery, Cookeville, Tennessee, near her father. Graveside service on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.