You were born in 1938. You were raised by parents from the greatest generation. You were part of the silent generation, but silent you were not.

During your life, you were in a convertible that rolled over, and injured your neck. You fell off a ladder and broke a couple of ribs. You fell off a deck, had a concrete bird bath land on you and broke nothing. In other words, you're kind of a bad ass.

You graduated 8th grade, got married, and had 4 children age 6 and under by age 21. Even by that age, you had done quite a lot. Then you were a hairdresser, then a factory worker at Monsanto Electronics Plant. You did the same work a man would do. You held your own quite well, and were part of the generation of women that proved to us that women could do what we used to think of as man's work.

You divorced in 1973 and maintained our household with Jim and I both still in high school. You never once said anything negative about our father in front of Jim or me. My father never once said anything negative about you in front of Jim or me. Because of this gracious act, even though our parents lived in separate houses, we continued to have the love and guidance of two parents.

In 1976, you married Ed Nisbet. Ed worked at the same Monsanto Electronics Plant as you did. Ed was retired from the US Air Force, having served in both the Korea and Vietnam wars. I guess Ed was kind of a bad ass too. You both grew in kindness and generosity together. After I moved away to college in 1985, and then out permanently in 1989, you were both known to do odd things like give rides to hitchhikers, setup young travelers for a night or two at the local hotel, and I imagine other equally crazy stuff.

You became a widow when Ed died on September 14, 2001. Three days after the attacks on the Twin Towers, and on your daughter Patty's 45th birthday. You moved out of your Foristell, MO house and into your Maryland Heights, MO house. Unfortunately, your daughter Patty died of hepatitis C in 2014. As your body complained about the years, and the burden of COPD limited your mobility, you moved into NHC skilled nursing facility at the end of 2019, just in time for the CCP virus to unleash our first global pandemic in over 100 years. In the midst of the many in-room lockdowns implemented to limit the spread of the CCP virus, your son Jim died of lung cancer in November 2020. However, through the miracle of zoom video, you were able to see and have a conversation with Jim just hours before he passed peacefully. I am still awe inspired how the Spirit took over and you and Jim were able to have such a meaningful conversation.

And why do I mention all of this? Because you have done it for me. I remember as a teenager you used to write very good stuff about me in my birthday cards, or just stand-alone notes. You told me how great I was. You called me your little mister fix-it. You let me know that I was appreciated. You let me know I matter.

I want you to know that you matter and always will. You will always be you. You still had your sense of humor. You still made people laugh. Heck, you always made an impression one way or the other.

Jo Ann Nisbet passed away peacefully on July 29th, 2024. She is preceded in death by her husband (Ed Nisbet), her daughter Patty Napier and her son Jim Napier (who leaves behind his wife Brenda). She is survived by her son, Mike Napier (his wife Danielle), and her daughter Barbara Edens (her husband Bob) along with her step-daughters Deb Branson and Cathy Langland (her husband Larry). Her grandchildren include Jamie and Jeff Napier, Ryan and Matt Napier, Darrell Keck, Michele Hauserman, Wendy Graham, Mandy and Sarah Jaspering. Her Step-grandchildren include Andrew and Jason Langland and Shawn, Gary and the late Keith Branson. She also leaves behind 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren along with countless other friends and family.

Visitation Sunday August 4, 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Collier's Funeral Home, 3400 N. Lindbergh Blvd (St. Ann). Funeral Service Monday, August 5, 11:00 AM at Collier's Funeral Home. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Humane Society of Missouri .