Jo Etta (Whitacre) Callaway departed this life on Saturday June 25th in James River Care Center. Jo Etta was born on September 27th 1933 to Cecil and Ruby (Denney) Whitacre in Ava Missouri.
Jo Etta graduated from Ava High School and went on to attend college at SMSU and Missouri University at Columbia. She became a teacher and taught in a one room school in Walnut Grove, Delaware Elementary School in Springfield and Wichita Kansas. Joetta married Ben M. (Mac) Callaway in 1958 and moved to Dearborn Michigan where she earned her Masters in Education and taught Elementary Education for the remainder of her career. After their retirement she and Mac moved to Springfield to be near family. Jo Etta was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn Michigan and attended Brentwood Christian Church after returning to Springfield.
Jo Etta was preceded in death by her husband Ben, both of her parents and two brother in laws Jack Jenkins and Diemer Long.
Jo Etta is survived by her sister Evon Jenkins Long, neices Jacqueline Jenkins and Robbin Jenkins Graham and husband George, Sister in law Cynthia Farnham and husband Art, nephews John and David Farnham, great nephews Ian and Nash Graham. She was also survived by her Aunt Dorothy Worel and several cousins.
Graveside services will be Tuesday June 28th 10 am at the Hazelwood Cemetery with Rev. Charles Bahn officiating. Visitation will be Monday evening at Greenlawn East Funeral Home from 6-8 pm. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association 2246 E Madrid Springfield 65804 or St. Judes Children’s Hospital.