Jo Anne Seay

Jo Anne (Counts) Seay, 90, died Sunday, November 29, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. It is with sad hearts we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grand mommy and G.G. (great-grand-mommy). Her love blessed all our lives and united us as a family. She was the glue that held us all together. Jo Anne Counts was born in Dallas, Texas to Anna Jewell (Tuggle) and Alton Mortimer Counts on June 4, 1930. She grew up in Corsicana, Texas, where she graduated from High School in 1947. Jo Anne became a Christian at the age of twelve and dedicated her whole life to the Lord’s service. She married Thomas J. Seay, Jr., son of Nora (Kirkpatrick) and Thomas J. Seay, Sr., on June 27, 1948 in Corsicana, Texas. Together, they celebrated 62 years together before the passing of Tom Seay on November 20, 2010. They worked side by side in the Lord’s ministry for several Churches of Christ in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Georgia. Tom and Jo Anne later served at the Boles Home Children’s Home and Central Texas Children's Home. Jo Anne served frequently as church secretary, taught Ladies Bible Class and also developed her own curriculum for cradle-roll Bible classes. She was invited to share her teaching knowledge at the Christian Teacher’s Workshop and the Lectureships hosted by Abilene Christian University as well as other Christian education programs. Tom and Jo Anne Seay’s union was blessed with three sons and one daughter. Jo Anne poured her love and passion for the Lord into the lives of her children. They knew that every time the church doors were opened they would be there and worshiped their Lord. Birthdays and holidays were a time of traditions and celebration. Together, their family made many road trips across the nation combining their love for history and for spreading the Lord’s gospel. Tom would hold a gospel meeting and then the family would visit the Presidential and National Historic sites. While traveling in the car, Jo Anne loved to embroidery and cross-stitch, something she had learned from her mother when she was a young girl. Jo Anne embraced becoming a grandmother. Her grandchildren all shared fond memories of the times they stayed with their grandparents at Boles Children’s Home and at their lake house in east Texas. They remember Jo Anne’s home made pancakes, hot peppermint tea, her love for gospels hymns, Frank Sinatra’s and Nat King Cole’s music, and reading the Bible every night before bedtime. Great-grandchildren loved sitting in G.G.’s lap and shared giggles. Jo Anne is preceded in death by both parents, and her husband, Thomas J. Seay, Jr. She is survived by her four children, sons, David Seay (wife Beth), Daniel Seay (wife Jan), and Donald Seay (wife Linda) and daughter, Debi McKibben; nine grandchildren, April Hampton and husband Derek, Adam Seay, Aabi Wigington, Jonathan Seay, Kathryn Blevins, Andrea Long and husband Jeremiah, Courtney Champion and husband Bill, Thomas McKibben and wife Jamie, and Melissa McKibben; and great-grandchildren, Jon Hampton, Lauren Hampton, William Hampton, Ivy Hampton, Londyn Hampton, Naeh Beth Hampton, Jacob Wigington, Benjamin Wigington, Sophia McKibben, Madelyn McKibben, Dylan Torres, Christian Bradley, Thomas (T.J.) Bradley, Kaylee Champion, Madison McKibben and Mike Calderon. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7) The family would like to thank and recognize the staff and doctors of Trail Lake Nursing Home and the Hospice personnel who cared for Jo Anne during the final year of her life.

Jo Anne Seay

June 4, 1930 - November 29, 2020