Jo Ann Grantham

Mary Jo Ann (Long) Grantham was called home where she was reunited with her husband, daughter, and a joyful host of family and friends. She passed peacefully at Homestead Assisted Living, in Girard, Kansas, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Jo Ann was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 3, 1931, to Roy Long and Alma (Davis) Long. She had three brothers: two older and one younger whom she helped raise. Jo Ann attended school in Kansas City until her sophomore year of high school; at that time, her father purchased the filling station in Walnut Grove where her family relocated. 

It was during her junior year that she met Roy Grantham; they dated for the rest of her high school career. Following her graduation in 1949, Jo Ann attended Draughon Business College to obtain secretarial skills.

Roy and Jo Ann were married on March 22, 1951. Shortly after, Roy was deployed to Korea, and Jo Ann remained in Springfield where she continued to work. Her places of employment included McFarlin Flying Service and Frueoff Trucking while she was in college and then Southwestern Inspection and Adjusters Agency until she started her family.

When Roy returned home, the two made their home in Springfield, Missouri and to them were born two children.

Jo Ann and Roy were charter members of the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield. Jo Ann played the piano and organ for all church services, taught a Sunday school class and was a member of the WMU.

Roy’s work took them to Mount Vernon, Missouri and later to Joplin, Missouri.  

In Mount Vernon, Jo Ann worked in the Mount Vernon First Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher, director of Girl’s Auxiliary and other areas of service.

After her children graduated from high school and left to attend college, she began filling in where needed in area businesses; she loved working in floral shops, especially on special occasions. Her favorites were Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and senior prom. 

She was a member of the American Red Cross Grey Ladies volunteers at the Missouri State Chest Hospital. After they moved to Joplin, they opened their own accounting tax service business where Jo Ann did the books.  They later sold the business and moved to Willard where they made their retirement home.  Together, they traveled across the nation, taking several tours and cruises, treasured experiences.

Jo Ann enjoyed crafts and was a proficient decorator who loved sewing, working with floral arrangements and ceramics. She was an exceptional cook and loved to feed her family. Her holiday spreads were favorites, and her grandchildren will always remember “Nana’s perfect cake” and her “secret ingredient” sugar cookies.

Jo Ann was proceeded in death by her husband, Roy; daughter, Karen; parents; and brothers, Eugene, Edwin, and Ronald.  

She is survived by her son, Lynn Grantham and wife, Nancy of Girard, Kansas and grandchildren Evan Grantham of Springfield, Missouri and Chelsie Grantham of Wichita, Kansas; other family and friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, April 3, 2026, at the Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, Walnut Grove, Missouri, with burial following at Greene Lawn Cemetery.