Obituary of Jo Anne Newhouse

Jo Newhouse was born July 24, 1946 to Joseph and Virginia (Wright) Bono in Tacoma, Washington. She passed away July 10, 2014 in Olympia, Washington, just two weeks shy of her 68th birthday. She lived in Olympia for 26 years, and in Yakima from 1971 to 1989. Jo graduated with a degree in education from Central Washington State University. She worked in the non-profit field in Yakima, managing programs with the YWCA, United Way and the MS Society. She also taught multiple recreational classes through the local college, YWCA and the parks departments. In Olympia, Jo worked in the banking industry as a loan officer. She retired in order to travel in 1997. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, FMCA, and multiple nonprofit organizations. Jo had a zest for life! In her younger years, she developed a love for all things creative. Some of her interests included crocheting, macramé, knitting, basket making, and even making some interesting clothing for her kids! While traveling with her husband Ed in their RV, she developed a love for the beach and specifically finding shells. She was known from Florida to the Baja in San Felipe, Mexico as “The Shell Lady.” She loved anything with bling and made some bling of her own through beadwork. Jo had a special place in her heart for her family and loved taking her grandchildren on trips. She and Ed enjoyed bringing the grandkids to places they had been and introducing them to several friends that they had made. Jo was an inspiration and role model for many during her fight with cancer. She had been initially diagnosed in the mid-1980s and continued to have multiple reoccurrences though the latter part of her life. She truly lived for each day, event and for the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Ed Newhouse; sons, Chris (Janeen) Newhouse of Phoenix, Arizona, and Scott (Larona) Newhouse of Yelm, Washington; and five grandchildren, Lillian, Brooke, Joe, Cate and Dan. Her parents predeceased her. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jo’s name may be made to the Group Health Foundation. Please leave memories of Jo or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.