Jo Ann Hudson, 79, of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday morning, August 6, 2024, at her home.
Jo Ann Brillhart was the first and orneriest child of Josephine (Johnson) and Raymond DeLoss Brillhart. She was born on January 31, 1945, and she began to test the limits early. Raymond always felt he was too hard on her, and, of course, she would remind him how tough she really was. She was later joined by two brothers, Terry and Randy, whom she bossed around as much as she could for as long as she could.
In July of 1965, Jo Ann married Garyl Erie, and they soon had one daughter, Kendra Alayne, in March of the following year. They made their home in Fort Scott, Kansas, and though they lost their son, Jeffrey Scott, on the same day he was born in March of 1971, they were blessed with another daughter, Karee Jo, in January of 1972. Three grandsons, Jesse, Saylor, and Zander, joined the family in the coming years.
Jo Ann worked for Dr. Douglas Weddle for many years at Fort Scott Family Physicians, and she later passed her realtor exam. She cared for her husband, Garyl, in his last few months, and she never went back to full time work after that.
She and her friend, Blake Hudson, got together in December of 1996, and decided to marry on April 1, 2000. Jo Ann became Jo Hudson, and she and Blake enjoyed their lives together for many years, which were mostly filled with fun.
Jo fought on until the morning of August 6, 2024. Being as stubborn as she was, no one who knew her was surprised by her tenacity. She is survived by her loving husband, Blake, who cared for her to the end with the truly appreciated help and care provided by several caregivers, aides, home health, and hospice nurses the last months of her life. They were wonderful.
Jo is also survived by her daughters: Kendra Purtle and her partner, Aaron Gaston of Osage Beach, Missouri, and Karee Erie of Pittsburg, Kansas; her grandsons, Jesse Purtle, and his daughter Purslane Everett Purtle, of Joplin, Missouri, Saylor Purtle, Tacoma, Washington, and Zander Purtle, of Osage Beach, Missouri; and her stepdaughter Nancy Wilson and her husband, Jack, and their three children, Josephine Wilson, Landon Wilson, and Cole Wilson, of Overland Park, Kansas.
Also surviving are her brother Rev. terry Brillhart and his wife, Fran, of Topeka, Kansas, and their big, beautiful family, and her brother Randy Brillhart and his wife Ann, of Wichita, Kansas, and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Josephine, her first husband Garyl, and their son Jeffrey Scott Erie.
Following cremation, Rev. Terry Brillhart will conduct services for Jo at 11:00 a.m. on Monday morning, August 12, 2024, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
