June 28, 1933-Dec. 10, 2022
Jo Ann Armstrong Raynor passed on Dec. 10, 2022, from natural causes at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, Utah, surrounded by her family. She spent 89 remarkable years on Earth and left a legacy of love and gratitude that will never be forgotten. She was born on June 28, 1933, in Moyers, West Virginia.
Jo was raised as a devoted Lutheran, where she learned of her worth through Jesus’ love. Her relationship with Jesus quickly grew while constantly singing her favorite childhood lullaby “Jesus Loves Me.”
Her teenage years were spent on the family farm in Doe Hill, West Virginia, where she graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. Jo joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1954 while attending West Virginia University. She continued her education at BYU, earning her BA in English in 1956 and her post-graduate certificate in Library Sciences in 1958.
She met Wallace Alan Raynor on a blind date, beginning a beautiful lifelong adventure. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 15, 1956, and from this union came four children. While starting their family, Jo spent several years working as a librarian in both Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Long Beach, California. She also substituted on and off for several years at Poly Tech High School. Jo chose to stay home and be with her children as her family grew but continued volunteering weekly while sharing her passion for learning and storytelling by facilitating story time with children at the public library. It was rare to find Jo without a book in hand.
In 1975, after living in Long Beach, Anaheim, and Villa Park, the Raynors left Southern California when Wally became the superintendent of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Santa Cruz County, where the family lived and thrived until 1981. They loved their years working and playing in Aptos on their beautiful Enos Lane property.
Upon retirement, the family relocated to Provo, Utah, to be closer to family. While in Provo, Jo worked with Wally on the Academy Square Preservation and Restoration Committee of the original Brigham Young Academy, which is now the Provo Public library. Jo always loved living in Provo, but eventually, the climate and culture of Southern Utah called to them. Wally and Jo spent the last years of their lives in Mesquite, Nevada and St. George, Utah, where they enjoyed musical concerts, plays, the temple, blue skies and knowing it would be a desired destination for their children and friends to visit.
As a devoted and lifelong church member, Jo loved to serve. She particularly enjoyed working with young women, ministering to those in need and teaching gospel doctrine. Jo and Wally served in the Provo Utah Temple before they served two missions together, one at the BYU Center in Nauvoo, Illinois, and the other as education missionaries at the University of Petroleum in Dongying, China.
Growing up on a West Virginia farm, Jo learned the value of hard work, which was helpful as she built and managed the family’s real estate business. Additionally, Jo had a knack for sewing, upholstering and renovation. She was a true “Jo of all trades.” She had a deep love and appreciation for music, which she enjoyed listening to and singing along to whenever she had the chance. In her free time, Jo enjoyed oil painting, reading, playing cards, attending performances, watching sporting events and nesting on her loveseat with a loved one by her side.
Jo created lifelong friendships wherever she lived. One of her greatest gifts was her ability to love everyone she met. Whether she called you sweetheart, beautiful, honey lamb, precious or darlin’, all who encountered her felt her unconditional love, immense gratitude for life and her powerful love for Jesus. If you were lucky enough to spend time with Jo, you left feeling like the most adored person in the world.
The world hath lost a beautiful angel, and heaven just got sweeter. We love you, “Granny Jo.”
She is survived by her daughters Cynthia (Greg) Nohrden, Nina (Keith) Barnes and Sabrina (Eric) Petersen; daughter-in-law Victoria Parker Raynor; her siblings Sonja Cunningham, Martha (Denny) Walker and Gary (Lorraine) Armstrong; 17 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her beloved Wally; son Thales; great-grandson Emil Daniel Bauer; parents Nina Coral Heltzel and Dice Samuel Armstrong; brothers James (Kay) Armstrong and John Dice Armstrong; sister Patty (Rex) Jensen; and sister-in-law Georgie Snyder.
Services will be held Friday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. in the Eagles Landing Ward Chapel, Morningside Stake, 1095 East St James Lane, St George. The family will be receiving visitors at 2 pm at the church.
Click here to access live streaming of the services.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of Jo Ann, donations can be sent to Southern Utah Veterans Home Nursing Scholarship Program. The family wishes to thank those at the Veterans Home who selflessly loved and cared for Jo Ann and Wallace.
Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.
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