Jo Land

Jo Ann Land, 81, of Odessa, Texas, died August 16, 2013 in Big Springs, Texas. A Memorial service will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday, at Crescent Park Baptist Church in Odessa.

Jo Ann was born Jo Ann Jenkins on November 20, 1931 in Ranger, Texas, to Eugene H Jenkins and Ann Edith Battles Jenkins. She moved with her parents and brother to Gainesville, Texas during World War II and to Sweetwater, Texas when she was in the 8th grade. Jo Ann graduated from Newman High School in Sweetwater in 1949, where she was a member of the school choir, Homemaking Club and appeared in Senior play.
She married George H Kiefer in September 1949. They had two children, William Michael Kiefer and Deborah Kay Kiefer. After their divorce, she moved to Midland, Texas with her two young children in 1955. Jo Ann worked at Sunset Motor Lines, later ETMF in Midland and Odessa from 19611969.

Jo Ann married Charles Land on May 31, 1969 in Odessa, Texas. They moved to Brownwood, Texas where she worked for 3M. Years later they would move to Crane, Texas where Charles owned and operated Charles Land Dirt Contractor, Inc until his retirement in 1988. Jo Ann served as VicePresident, SecretaryTreasurer of the corporation for 12 years. After Charles retirement they purchased a home and moved to Gardendale, Texas. Within a few weeks after the move, Charles died of a heart attack.
After Jo Ann husbands death, she became a member of the West Texas Singles, where she served two terms as secretary. In 1999, Jo Ann sold her Gardendale home and built a home in Odessa, Texas. During that time she met her long time companion of 21 years, Donnie Potts.

She was a member of Crescent Park Baptist Church since 1988, being a member of the singles department, then the Adult 6 Sunday School department. Jo Ann was a former volunteer of the Juliet Society for The Globe of the Great Southwest where she served as a secretary and various other jobs. She was also a member of the Ladies Odessa Forum, and served as secretary. Jo Ann belonged to several Bridge clubs, a game she loved to play throughout her life.

Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles Land, her brother Richard E. Jenkins, her only nephew James Richard Jenkins Vahle who was killed in a car accident in Connecticut when he was 19 years old, stepmother Joyce Jenkins, stepsister Lurlene Crump, both from San Saba, Texas, and several aunts, uncles and cousins from Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Survivors are her son Mike Kiefer and his wife Kimberly, and granddaughter Rebekah Ann Kiefer and stepgrandson, Blane from Ira, Texas. She is also survived by Mikes sons from previous marriages, Edwin Kiefer from Arkansas, Jonathan Kiefer from Oklahoma, and Joshua Kiefer, Heston Kiefer and George Maxwell Kiefer from Washington. Other survivors are her daughter Deborah Kiefer Alexander and husband David from Tampa, FL, and her grandchildren Tyler Alexander and Austin Alexander from Tampa, FL, Carri Alexander Corbett and husband Bill from Oakland, CA, Cassidy Alexander from Orlando, FL. She is also survived by her only niece Donna Taylor Easom and husband Jerry from Frisco, Texas, and Donnas son Brandon Bernstein from her marriage to Kenny Bernstein, and Donna and Jerrys son Clayton Easom, and sisterinlaw Sharon EdgeJenkins from Odessa, Texas.

Of all of Jo Anns accomplishments on this earth, she was most proud of her children and grandchildren and all of their current accomplishments.

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