72 years of Jo stories, 1954 to 2026

“I met Jo as a student at Towson University when she was doing her teaching degree as her assistant Professor I thought with her kind heart and Christian background she would be a lovely companion to Richard whom I had known as a family friend , so I introduced them and love ensued ! They were married and we continued to visit them frequently as my daughter Jennie grew . Jo always welcomed us into their home with graciousness. Jo and I spent time talking about books and Politics sharing favorite articles from The New York Times and bestsellers we loved . I was always very impressed with her quilting and crafting talents as well . While visiting her sister in law on Lake George in New York, I often spent time in Rich and Jo's motor boat going back and forth across the lake to their house for visits. I enjoyed watching her become and outstanding mother and grandmother and saw her talents with both ! I was delighted when Jo and Richard moved to Broadmead . I will certainly miss her presence in my life and will continue to support Richard and his family during this sad time .”

“We were friends for decades. I still remember my feeling of awe seeing her beautiful velvet wedding dress. We raised our kids together, visited Jo and Rich at Lake George, spent many happy times as family friends. One summer she asked me if I would send our older son to a program she'd found for Rob, and it turned out to be wonderful. Our son discovered that he was a hands-on learner and it changed his educational experience for the better. We shared so many good times and good laughs. I last spoke with Jo a few months ago. We'll miss her.”

“I met Jo when I was 5 or 6 . She was a student of my Mother's in Education at Towson State College ( back then ) My mother as a family friend of the Wrays had introduced Jo to Richard as Richard was single and she thought Jo and Richard would be compatible . So they obviously were and had just begun dating and we all went to Longwood Gardens near Chadds Ford Pa one spring day . That day I was exploring (in my Sears pants suit. Oh so 1971!! )While exploring I fell and stopped myself by landing in to a garden of cactus plants . I was miserable !!!!! I remember Jo running over and comforting me and trying to help me get the pricks loose from my hands and knees . After that day the engagement ensued and they were married on Christmas Eve I believe the same year . Visiting with Jo and Richard and eventually Rob was a frequent activity for all of us . Jo was kind enough to make doll clothes for my bride doll and allow me carte blanche to all the interesting typewriters in the basement to use during visits to their Reisterstown home . It was lovely that she and Richard were able to spend time with my Mom at Broadmead . They were there for each other ! RIP Jo you were so special , always a deep thinker with a great laugh .”

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Baby Rob, Kay, Jo in Alabama An old snapshot from a front porch: Rob in an orange-and-green striped top is mid-cry on the lap of Kay in a flowered blouse and big glasses, while Jo in a pink flowered blouse smiles from the rocking chair behind them. With: Kay, Rob, Jo

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2 photos

Disney & Orlando, 1980s Two old prints from the same summer day. Mom, in a denim shirt, is with a young boy in a red Coca-Cola T-shirt. In one they're standing by an animal exhibit with a wooden climbing frame and a tire swing, a crowd watching along the fence; in the other they're cheek to cheek in front of a castle-style stone gateway hung with red and yellow banners. With: Mom, Robbie

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Jo & Robbie 1980s, By a wreathed door in winter An old winter print of Mom and Robbie in a puffy white-and-navy jacket, standing by a pale green front door hung with a big wreath of greenery, apples, pinecones and dried berries. The sun is bright and they're both bundled up and smiling.

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Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin (old print) From an old print: Mom and Rob in a blue Hawaiian shirt and red pants by the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, under the cherry blossoms, with the Jefferson Memorial across the water. Fallen petals are floating along the edge of the water. With: Jo, Rob

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A Christmas portrait from an old print An old snapshot from what looks like a Christmas in the 1980s. Mom, in a dark velvet dress with a lace collar and pearls, is laughing up at Rich in a plaid jacket, who has his arms around her and around a grinning Robbie in a navy suit and tie. Pine boughs and little lights fill the corner behind them. With: Jo, Rich, Robbie

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5 photos

Jo really liked the "pink geese" one, which was also used to help sell the house. PS The title of the October one is "Morning Glory."

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4 photos

I found my photos of our trip on the Mohican, September 1, 2009. We celebrated Jo's birthday.

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3 photos

There were many summers over the years that Jo and Rich took me and some of my friends and family members out for a ride on the lake.

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3 photos

This boat ride happened on July 2, 2011. Liz, who was engaged to Nancy Law's son, brought a friend who didn't realize she should go to the bathroom before going out on the lake. So this trip was one of the most memorable ones because Rich had to open up the bathroom .

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Pontoon ride on Lake George, August 2012 Mom out on Lake George on August 24, 2012, sitting in the back of a pontoon boat near Hague. She's in a white sun hat with a bright striped scarf across her shirt, next to Rich in a white hat of his own, with the wake trailing out behind them. With: Jo, Rich

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3 photos

Labor Day week at Lake George, 2013 Labor Day weekend 2013, up at Lake George. On the Sunday, Mom stopped at a farm stand in Ticonderoga with baskets of peppers, cucumbers and eggplant under a "Buy Local" sign. That evening there was dinner outside on the deck: corn on the cob, fish with roasted cherry tomatoes and a glass of white wine, with the lake showing through the trees. A few days later, on September 5, she was sitting out on a big sunny rock in Hague with Rob and Rich. With: Jo, Rob, Rich

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Jo was a great friend and kind soul. She was a great comfort to me during very difficult times. Richard and I both worked as polling officials, and had the same location assignment once. The hydrangea Jo planted to honor her mother is still looking fabulous. I look at it every day. Even dried, when the sun hits it, it glows. Jo had the best smile, and I'm sure she took it with her to keep using as she saw fit. :)

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Tracy's bridal shower on a sunny patio Here's Mom at a bridal shower, out on a sunny stone patio with the bride-to-be in her white lace dress and "Bride To Be" sash. The bride and the woman in the navy dress are wearing matching purple flower corsages. With: Tracy, Kay, Jo

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Ava & Tracy's baby shower Everyone crowded in for this group photo at a baby shower, with pink balloons overhead and pink paper hearts stuck to nearly everyone's clothes. The mother-to-be in a floral dress is front and center, and there's even a baby in the front row.

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Mom snapping a picture of the baby January 5, 2019, at our house. Mom, wrapped in a purple fleece shawl, grinning as she takes a picture on her phone of the baby standing up at the side of the play yard.

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4 photos

At the Rawlings Conservatory Grandma Jo and Ava at the Rawlings Conservatory: Jo mid-laugh while Ava peers over the edge of the tiled pool, then resting a hand on Ava's curls beside the citrus trees. Ava gazing up at Grandma Jo, and Jo grinning right back. And the two of them by the citrus trees, Ava wide-eyed. With: Jo, Ava

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Mom on a COVID video call, April 2020 April 23, 2020: Mom on the laptop screen, video-calling into our living room with a bearded man beside her. The toddler in the denim jacket and purple glasses waved at the screen while a black-and-white dog wandered through, and a birthday balloon sat in the corner. With: Mom, Dad, Ava

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Mother's Day COVID 2020 in the yard Mother's Day 2020 in Reisterstown: a visit out in the yard, with the chairs spread well apart. Mom sat back by the house in a green jacket with her cane, while a masked man in a gray hoodie held a stuffed dog and the toddler in a pink knit hat held out a yellow toy. With: Rich, Jo, Ava

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St. Patrick's Day Paoli, PA trip St. Patrick's Day evening, 2021: story time on the couch during a trip to Longwood Gardens with Ted & Barb. Mom, in a yellow fleece with a purple blanket over her lap, points at the pictures while the toddler in pink pajamas follows along and a bearded man in plaid holds the other side of the book. With: Mom, Dad, Ava

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Reading together in the big armchair An April afternoon in 2022. Here's Mom reading to a curly-haired little girl who is squeezed into the big carved armchair with her. Through the glass doors behind them you can see the sunroom, and a copy of The Dirt Book sits on the floor nearby. Broadmead. With: Mom, Ava

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Mom on the carousel in Druid Hill Park Mom waving from a carousel chariot on a Monday in late September 2023, while a curly-haired little one rode a striped horse just ahead of her. This was in Druid Hill Park, near the Maryland Zoo. With: Mom, Ava

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Making clay creatures at the BMA A Sunday afternoon in January 2024, making clay creatures at the Baltimore Museum of Art. A curly-haired little one gave theirs wooden-stick legs and a strand of silver beads, while Mom, in her pink top and a mask, worked on her own with orange yarn right alongside.

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Sunday morning Parcheesi at our house A Sunday morning game of Parcheesi at our dining room table in July 2025. Mom sat in her pink T-shirt with her arms folded, a bearded man in a yellow T-shirt reached in to move a piece, and the youngest player knelt up on a chair over the board. There was a bowl of cherries within reach. With: Mom, Dad, Ava

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4 photos

Scrabble with Mom at Broadmead, October 2026 A Sunday afternoon game of Scrabble with Mom at Broadmead on October 25, 2026. She leaned in over the board on the little rolling table, a man with a long white beard sat on the edge of the bed with the tile box, and a young player in a dark wizard-style robe sat close by, with a big plush horse watching from the pillows. This was eight days before Mom died. With: Mom, Dad, Ava

“I always think of Mrs. Jo as a "goofy calm" for Mr. Wray. He seems to worry a lot and she kinda laughs at everything and calms him a bit ☺️. Keep laughing up in heaven Mrs. Jo so that Mr. Wray can hear you! 😄”