Jo Leta Weems

Jo Leta Weems peacefully passed away Friday morning, November 22, 2019, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kansas.

Jo Leta Weems was born October 13, 1932 at Walters, Oklahoma, to Leta O'Reta (Wallen) and Cornelius Rudolphus (Rat) Wilson. Since her dad worked on highway/bridge construction, Jo Leta lived in a variety of Oklahoma towns until her parents moved to Sulphur in 1946. She graduated from Sulphur High School in May, 1950. Jo married Thurman Dolphis (Bud) Weems on July 2, 1950. They were blessed with three children, Deborah Sue, Robert Eugene and Consuella.

After working thirteen years to obtain her degree, Jo began teaching at Calallen, Texas. When they moved to Harveyville, Kansas in 1967, she taught sixth grade at Burlingame, then moved to the English Department at Harveyville and Mission Valley High Schools until 1975. During her career Jo also worked as the Emporia State University Teacher Core School Community Coordinator and at Capitol City High School, as a Behavior Disorder teacher. She spent the rest of her career doing what she loved best, serving as counselor for USD 329, Alma School District, until retiring in 1994.

Jo Leta found she missed working with people so decided to start a second career as a Mary Kay Consultant. Not only did she love being in the positive Mary Kay environment, she received many awards and encouraged other women to reach for the stars.

Jo enjoyed being part of the Harveyville community, visiting family and friends, and helping others.

Survivors include one sister, Sallie Ann Wilson, Owasso, Oklahoma, one sister-in-law, June Wilson, Lubbock, Texas, her two daughters, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren; Deborah (George) Pugh, Ft Worth, Texas, step daughter Michelle (Don); daughter-in-law Robin Weems, Lake Quivira, Kansas, and sons, Tucker Thurman, Joshua Russell (Meagan), and Collin Robert; daughter Connie (Chris) Borgren, Stanton, Nebraska, Christopher Stephen II (Kecia), Amy (Tim) Siebrandt, and Emily Borgren; and great grandchildren Chasity, Caitlin, Jackson and Henry, and one great great grandchild, Jaiden.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the community center at Brookside Retirement Community, November 30, at 10:30 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the "City of Harveyville, for the Community Center," P.O. Box 187, Harveyville, KS 66431.