Jo Ann Warner, 86, of Bay City, Texas, was reunited with her loving husband on Thursday afternoon, April 3, 2025. Jo Ann was born on July 11, 1938, in Bay City, Texas to Benjamin Aitken and Nina Evelyn Walker. She was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and we can never forget, Mrs. Claus during her lifetime. Her smile, laughter, and sincere kindness and generosity will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Jo Ann enjoyed her time at home, in Van Vleck and Bay City, raising her children, and enjoying family vacations with her husband, Bill, also known as Pop. When her children were older, she started driving a school bus for the Van Vleck Independent School district. This opened up the opportunity for her to drive the special needs bus. She loved them so much she went from driving their bus to working at the Edith Armstrong Center for special needs children and adults here in Bay City.

Those family vacations continued as her children had their own children. She and Pop would take them to their favorite places, Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Vacations would begin in the early morning hours with a main destination and unexpected adventures in between. She instilled this sense of adventure in her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, who continue her tradition of fun and family togetherness today.

Jo Ann was passionate about church, singing and playing piano, cooking, going crabbing and time at Matagorda beach, passing out candy at Halloween while playing old, classic horror movies on a projector for the trick-or-treaters, and taking her kids, grandkids and great grandkids on adventures big and small. Christmas was also always exciting for her as she would go out the day after Christmas and start shopping in preparation for the next one; where she and Pop would dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and go to her beloved family members and friends' homes to deliver Christmas gifts each year.

In her last few years, Jo Ann was a resident at the Colonial Independent and Assisted Living complexes in Bay City. She enjoyed participating in activities (especially Bingo!) and made many friends while there.

Jo Ann is survived by her brother Glenn Walker (children Terri, Wendy, and Cody), brother Phillip Walker (child Clint), sister Norma (children Rene, John Anthony, Aaron), son William H. Warner Jr. (children Joshua (spouse Ryan), Casey, Loren (spouse Chris), Shane and Trace, son Gregory P. Warner (spouse Debbie, children Lindsay and Lacey), daughter Cheryl A. Bentley (spouse Ron, children Jonathan (spouse Michael), Christopher (spouse Kelsey, child Sawyer), great-grandchildren Serena Ruiz (great-great grandchildren Marcus Jr. and NovaLee), Hayden Ruiz, and Corbyn Robles), daughter Jo Lyia Beck (children Tracy Burgan (spouse Randy) and Timothy), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins that fill the many branches of her family tree.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Evelyn Walker, brothers Jerry Lee, Ben (son Benjamin) and Rex, sister Lotus, nephew Glenn, her loving husband, William H. Warner, grandchild Crystal A. Hayden and great-grandchild Anngelina M. Ruiz.

A grave-side service will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at the Matagorda Cemetery in Matagorda, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Colonial Assisted Living complex in Bay City to support residents' games and activities.