Josephine (Jo) Evelyn Williamson

Jo Williamson, 79, of Port Arthur, Texas, died peacefully Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Lucas Place in Beaumont, Texas.

Jo, Josephine Evelyn Williamson, was born August 16, 1944 to Josephine Rose Furry Williamson and John Eugene Williamson. She graduated from Beaumont High School in 1962 and entered Lamar State College of Technology on tract to become a Physical Therapist. She completed her degree at The University of Texas Medical School in Galveston at age 20, becoming the youngest person to complete the program.

Other than several years she worked in the laboratory for Arco in Port Arthur, she was a physical therapist until retirement at age 65. Jo worked in multiple settings including 2 years in Montgomery, Alabama in the Air Force Hospital attaining Captain status. She worked in several different outpatient settings, did home-Physical Therapist treatments and worked a number of years in the Hughen Home for Crippled Children. She especially enjoyed working with children. She ended her career at Rehab 4 Kids.

Wit and generosity were two of Jo’s traits. Also she excelled with multiple hobbies. She was an avid vegetable gardener and won many ribbons at the Port Arthur annual Garden Show. Her tomatoes were especially hard to beat. She did beautiful needle point and gifted friends with her floral works. Jo was an excellent game player, especially excelling in scrabble. In 1989 she won a Decipher first prize. Jo also had a love of fishing which started as a child at her great aunt and uncle’s home on Bastrop Bayou in Angleton, Texas.

Jo experienced many challenges in her life including achieving sobriety and those challenges shaped her into the strong person she was.

Jo was preceded in death by both of her parents and many family members and friends.

Jo is survived by her sister, Janet (Jim) Thornton of Youngstown Ohio, nephew John Thornton, (Joe), cousin Gene Hanchey and his family, Loretha (Craig) Meyer, their children Noel, Owen, Mollie and grandma Anita, the Valdez Family, Richard Murphy, and many more loving friends.

The family is appreciative of the staff at Lucas Place. The family is horning Jo’s wishes to be cremated. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. There will be a memorial service for family and friends at a later date.