JoAnne Grady of North Platte passed away at Linden Court on January 7, 2024, at the age of 82. She was born June 20, 1941 to Maxwell and LaRena (Dantice) Willson. JoAnne grew up in North Platte, graduating from NPHS in 1959.
As a teenager JoAnne attended Methodist church camp, and it was there she first met her life partner, Wes Grady. She went to Denver University for her freshman year in college, then spent the summer with one of her sisters living in Orange County, California. One of JoAnne's favorite stories from that time was when she served lunch to Walt Disney. After that summer, JoAnne transferred to the University of Nebraska where she and Wes reconnected, and she graduated with a degree in education. The newlyweds moved to North Platte where they lived their entire adult lives.
JoAnne's profession was as a speech therapist and later a substitute teacher. Her true joy was volunteering in the community she loved. Some of the many organizations JoAnne was active in include: Goodfellow Shoe Fund, National Honor Society, P.E.O., Heartland Singers, Great Plains Medical Center volunteer, and the First United Methodist Church. Above all JoAnne loved Wes and her three boys, encouraging them throughout her life. She truly loved her family, friends, acquaintances and strangers, caring for them, wanting to help them, and going out of her way to make them feel special. Above all JoAnne loved Wes and their three boys, encouraging them throughout her life.
JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents, Maxwell and LaRena (Dantice) Willson; husband, Wes; sisters, Jean Humphrey and Betty Humphrey.
She is survived by her sister, Debbie Harvey; sons, Mitchell Grady of Denver, Ted (Terez) Grady of Gig Harbor, WA, and Rick (Eryn) Grady of New Albany, OH; grandchildren Ryan (Jamie), Jonathan, and Sarah Grady, Ryder and Lincoln Grady; and other family.
Celebration of JoAnne's Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Michael Evans officiating. Inurnment will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the North Platte Public Schools Foundation or the Alzheimer's Association in honor of JoAnne.