Jo Anne Whitaker

The family of Jo Anne Whitaker would like to announce that she has gone to be with the Lord at the age of 84 on December 30, 2020. Jo Anne Wyrick was born May 7, 1936 to Elmer Clifford and Rhovenia Grace Wyrick of Garland, TX. She worked in Dallas as a radio and television advertising executive before moving to the Texas Panhandle. She had a passion for antiques and 2nd hand goods which led her to opening shops in both Gruver, Texas and 6th street in Amarillo, Texas.
She was known by many different names over the years such as Josie, Jo Anne, Anne, Annie, Grannie Annie to name a few depending on the decade and the friends and grandchildren around at the time. She was an avid supporter of Gruver schools and attended countless events to support her children and grandchildren and was a very active member in The First Christian Church of Gruver.
Her biggest wish was to have a large family and she had that in spades. Jo Anne was the mother five of her own children and a stepson by marriage. She is preceded in death by her oldest son, Gary Don Abernathy of Arlington, TX. She leaves behind a sister, Patsy Kate Garrett of Happy Valley, OR. Her children; Merry Abernathy Wheelock of Gruver, TX, Kerry Abernathy of Colorado Springs, CO, James Whitaker of Amarillo, TX, Andrea Whitaker Tucker of Elgin, TX and Robert Whitaker of Morse, TX along with their spouses, 19 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and the community she adored here in the Texas Panhandle.
Graveside services will be held at the Gruver Cemetery on Sunday, January 3, 2021, at 3pm.
In lieu of flowers please make a financial donation to the Hansford Hospice at 712 Roland St. Spearman, Texas 79081.