JO BRYARLY CHRIESMAN was born on 21 August 1932 in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas to Robert Lee Chriesman & Mary Frances Bryarly-Chriesman. Jo’s father was killed in an auto accident when she was just 4 years old. About 7 years later her mother was remarried to Robert Folliard Perdue, and shortly thereafter, Jo gained a younger brother, Robert Folliard Puerdue Jr (b. 6 July 1944), and a sister, Julianne "Julie" Perdue (b. 19 June 1948).

The family's lives were filled with music as they always had a piano in the house, played by Jo & her mother, and her mother played a piano & organ for their church services. Jo and her mother joined the LDS Church circa 1950. When they were not playing the piano, on old Magnavox HiFi swelled with music throughout their home, and it still works to this day!

Jo’s mother went to work after Julie started 2nd grade (1956), but couldn't earn much with an 8th grade education. She was well read and very intelligent, and a great inspiration to her daughters. She encouraged all her children to read, and she taught them to dance with a focus on Ballroom dancing.

Jo skipped 2 grades in secondary education, entered college at the age of 16, and earned her college degree in Library Science from San Angelo College, (now Angelo State College), at the age of 18. Jo was a member of the Press Club and on the Rambouillet editorial staff during her entire college education.

She was already working to support her mother and siblings. She could have had her choice of schools to pursue her education anywhere, but chose a local school so she could continue to support the family. Jo worked 2 - 3 jobs at a time in order to do so. During her career, she also worked at the Standard Times, (San Angelo, TX newspaper), as a proofreader. Later, she became a telephone operator for General Telephone and worked her way into management serving over 40 yrs with the company, which was bought out by Verizon during her tenure.

Jo's sister Julie states, "Jo was a magnificent woman. She was tall like her Dad, standing 6 ft tall with auburn hair."

She was extremely intelligent with a "steel-trap memory." Jo was a lover of opera and classical music and instilled the same in her younger sister, Julie. Julie recalls that Jo took trips to the Metropolitan Opera whenever possible. She also reminisces about the flavors of Baskin Robbins after going to the local theater.

Julie, recollects that Jo was humble and socially at ease, and one could always enjoy a feisty encounter with Jo. Julie expressed great affection for her sister, “I feel so fortunate to have been the recipient of her love.”

Jo was exceptionally charitable especially to cultural, animal and environmental causes. Julie states, that Jo gave over half of her income to charity from age 60 through her passing in 2016. Most of her life, Jo lived in the home built by her grandfather Joseph Louis Bryarly. However, in 2012, Jo broke her hip, and her sister Julie was able to return the care she had always known from her sister by bringing her into her home to care for Jo's needs.

Jo passed away on 28 January 2016 in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas, and she was laid to rest there at Fairmount Cemetery.

REFERENCES:

1. Correspondence from Patsy Harvey-Bradley, received 20 December 2005.

2. TOM GREEN County Births 1932
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx
/tomgreen/vitals/births/1932/tomgr32b.txt

3. Biographical notes from her sister, Julie Purdue-Newman, received 9 February 2017.

4. Notes and photos from Jo Chriesman's college education at San Angelo College, received 27 March 2017 from Shannon Sturm, Library Senior Archivist & Campus Records Manager, Houston Harte University Center 205-C at Angelo State College.