JoAnne McCauley

JoAnne McCauley, 82, of Hewitt, Texas, entered into her Lord’s loving arms on August 24, 2026 after a brief courageous battle with a sudden terminal illness. She spent a life based on faith and centered it around her love for God, family, and countless cherished moments.

A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Waco, followed by the visitation starting at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, 2026 also at St. Jerome Catholic Church, officiated by Father James Ekeocha. Burial will follow the Mass at Waco Memorial Park.

JoAnne was born in Syracuse, New York on July 8, 1944 to Clarence and Elizabeth Jackson, and spent her early childhood years discovering many new joys in life with her cousins Maureen and Phyllis. The winters in New York found her frolicking in her snowsuit and boots while making snow angels under the Syracuse sky. She embraced a love for reading and creative writing at an early age which remained her interests throughout her life.

Her family moved to Waco, Texas in 1955 when her father was stationed at James Connally Air Force Base. She attended St. Mary Catholic School and Reicher Catholic High School, graduating in 1962. She was married in 1964 for 19 years to Bob McCauley, Sr. and became a loving, devoted, young mother with the births of their daughter and two sons. She proudly served her role in the home as a full-time mother to her children throughout their early years baking cookies, helping with coloring books, and reading nursery rhymes until the youngest had finally started school. She then started a decades-long career as a legal secretary for the Dunnam Law firm, and then went to work for the Veterans Administration, followed by a part-time career as an office clerk with Central Texas Eye Clinic.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents; nephew, Kory Allen Jackson; and numerous members of her extended family from New York.

Survivors include her daughter, Cathy McCauley; sons, Bob McCauley, Jr. and Chris McCauley and his wife Sheri; grandson, Jacoby McCauley and his wife Jill; two brothers, James Jackson and his wife Sharon, and John Jackson and his wife Janice; three nieces, Kayla Dayton and her husband Shawn, Rachael Castillo and her husband Adam, and Kendra Jackson; descendants of her nieces that brought lights of God’s grace to shine brightly in her world, Haley, Nathaniel, Vivian, and Dean; godson David; and extended New York family who loved her dearly.

Active pallbearers are Jacoby McCauley, Shawn Dayton, Adam Castillo, Chris Millet, Tommy Smallwood, and Scott Blizzard. Honorary pallbearers are her two brothers, James Jackson and John Jackson.

JoAnne was soft spoken by nature and always enjoyed encouraging laughter in others while sharing in the varying emotions of life. It was important for her to carry on the family traditions each year of hosting the Christmas and Easter gatherings, where she would bake homemade snickerdoodle and candy cane cookies for all of her loved ones to enjoy. She loved butterflies, birds – especially cardinals, angels, and a leisurely stroll through her backyard that was displayed with various ornaments alluding to those facts. She actively worshiped her Lord Jesus throughout life and regularly attended Rosary and Mass on Saturday evenings with her daughter by her side at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Waco. She enjoyed watching The Chosen and House of David series with her children and daughter-in-law at home. Whenever a family member was facing life’s many challenges, you could always count on JoAnne to pray the Rosary on their behalf.

Though she will be greatly missed by her family and loved ones, heartfelt encouragement can be taken at her recent arrival in the meadows along Heaven’s way - the everlasting embrace with her mother, father, nephew, many other family members, and the guiding hand of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joanne’s honor to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.