Jo Ann Holder

Jo Ann Holder, 83, of Waco, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 21, 2025. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard, Waco, Texas, with Paul Barron officiating.

Jo Ann was born in Round Rock, Texas, on May 8, 1942, to Inez Pate Middlebrook and Wiley Felton Squyres. At age 5, her family moved to Waco, where she attended Waco schools. After completing school, she married William Stead and had one daughter, Karen Stead Lovelace.

She worked as a cashier in different establishments for many years before beginning her career at Central Freight Lines as a long-haul driver. After leaving Central Freight Lines and traveling the country as a company owner, she then retired from her truck driving career and became a special education teacher. After a short time, she retired again and decided to stay home to spend more time with family.

She loved to travel and enjoyed taking trips with her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. She also took many trips with her sisters, other family members, and friends. Other hobbies included sewing, solving crossword puzzles, working jigsaw puzzles, and cooking. Her pies were always a big hit at any get-together.

She is preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Cherylane Carter, Ruth Smith, and Sarah Dutsonand; and one brother, Lloyd Flynn.

Survivors include her daughter, Karen Lovelace and husband, Bob of China Spring; grandsons, Jeremy Lovelace of Waco and Ricky Lovelace and wife, Erin of Spring; great-grandchildren, Finn, Violet, Nolan, and Lila; one sister, Nell Welch; and many nieces and nephews.