Annie Josephine "Jo" Lankard passed away on December 18, 2008, in Houston, Texas at the age of 96. She was preceded in death by her husband, Preston A. Lankard, her parents Edward W. Coward, Sr. and Connie Wyatt Coward, her brothers and sisters-in-law Edward Coward, Jr. & wife Kathyrn and E.D. "Rusty" Coward & wife Dorothy, brother-in-law Howard C. Ham, Sr. and son-in-law Scott Stewart.

Jo was born on the Melon Creek Ranch near Refugio, Texas, on August 1, 1912, and had been a resident of Bay City since 1936.

She is survived by her sister, Thelma "Curley" Ham of Bay City, her daughters Moselle Stewart of Houston and Connie Ory & husband Ray of Katy; grandchildren Lisa S. Davidson & husband Walter of Houston, Michael Scott Stewart & wife Beverly of Austin, Michelle O. Corbin & husband Alan of Katy, and Rachel O. McGinn & husband David of Katy; great grandchildren Connie and Marie Davidson, Mallory Stewart, Travis and Caroline Corbin, and Kelsey McGinn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Ray Ory, Howard Ham Jr., Michael Stewart, Walter Davidson, Alan Corbin, and David McGinn. Honorary pallbearers are: W. C. "Bill" Ham, David Coward, and Stan, Sam, & John Chadwell.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Sunday at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Monday, December 22, 2008, at the First Presbyterian Church of Bay City with Rev. Michael Sydnor officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Bay City.