Jo Thayer Obituary

We were so sad to learn of Jo Ann's passing. She was such a wonderful women. She helped us buy our first house along with my parents here in countryside. She will be greatly missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers our with Jo Ann's entire family and friends. Bruce, Jamie and Brittney Frost

My condolonces to the family of Jo Ann Thayer. I was part of the graduating class of 1966 and I will always remember those friendly and inspiring days that we all shared as classmates and young people. Jo Ann will be missed by all of us.

Even though I only knew you for a short period of time, you seemed like a sister to me. I really appreciated it when you helped out with my sister Caroline. I am going to miss you terribly and always love you. May God give your family strength to carry on.

To the Thayer and Vallone families, please accept my condolences over the recent loss of your loved one Jo Ann. Having known her since we were kids in Security, where her parents owned the town bakery, Jo Ann always was very warm and kind to me. In our adult years, Jo Ann always called me by my childhood name "Donnie" in her annual Christmas cards. Her warmth and kindness continued at our 40-year high school reunion at which Jo Ann immediately took me under her wing and helped me throughout the event to find my way around due to my vision impairment. She and her husband Ed could have easily experienced the event on their own, but they watched out for me. I will always cherish the many photos that Jo Ann and Ed gave to me. On the night that Jo Ann passed away about 9:00 p.m., I was in Denver attending a Chicano cultural event at which there was a spiritual performance by an American Indian flutist, who at one point requested the audience to close our eyes and remember people who have left our lives in death. Upon recalling my many deceased relatives and friends as the flutist played on, I also remembered the deceased classmates known by Jo Ann and others from our high school. Little did I know that Jo Ann passed away during the spiritual flutist's ceremony. "Mitakuye oyasin" are the words the flutist used in his native language. In English, those words mean "We are all related." In addition to being related to her biological family, Jo Ann was indeed related to all of us. May she rest in peace.

I spent many a summer at my cousins, the Vallone's, in Colorado Springs. I will always remember the great times with my popular, beautiful and fun cousin, Jo Ann -- and her younger brother, Buddy. I am deeply saddened to read of Jo Ann's passing, and my sincere sympathies are with her brother, Buddy, her husband Ed, and her entire family. Much love, Sandy

Joann, you will be missed every day and every hour. Though our contact had been quite infrequent since HS, we never forgot you nor will we ever.

The peace of Christ be with you.
Doug Allen
WHS '66

Our deepest sympathies and most sincere thoughts are with the Thayer and Wilson families at this time. We are so terribly sorry for your loss. Jo Ann was an exceptional woman and will forever be remembered.