Jo Juana Houston

Funeral services for Jo Juana Houston, age 71, of Henderson, will be held Wednesday, December 5, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Henderson with the Rev. Ricky Ricks officiating. Burial will follow in Neeley Cemetery.Mrs. Houston passed away at Hospice of East Texas on Sunday morning with family at her side. Jo Houston was born August 30, 1941 at the family home in the small community of Good Springs. She had a Master's Degree in Education and dedicated more than 40 years of her life to teaching, including 34 years teaching first grade for Henderson ISD.She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Houston, and her parents, Arnold O. and Ruby M. Spence. She is survived by her son, Paul David Houston and wife Nicole Michelle Houston of Henderson, 2 daughters, Jenee' Lynne Houston of Henderson and Rhonda Leigh Houston of Henderson, two beloved grandchildren, Suzanna Kate Houston and Benjamin Aaron Houston, both of Henderson, a brother, Lloyd Spence of Good Springs, a sister, Edie Hudman of Henderson, her nephew, Randal Hudman of Henderson, her niece, Elise Hudman of Henderson and a grandnephew, Ethan Spence Hudman of Henderson, as well as many other relatives and dear friends.She is also survived by the legacy of education she left behind. She changed the lives of generations of children in the Henderson community who, no matter how tall or grown up they got, would always be "her children" and she would always love and remember them.Jo's sweet spirit has left our lives for now, but it will live on in all of the lives she has touched. It will live on in the hundreds of children that learned to read in her classroom. It will live on in the wonderful friends who will always treasure their memories of her. It will live on in her family, whose hearts ache now with the missing of her, but who will carry her in those hearts lovingly, proudly, and always. Pallbearers for Mrs. Houston will be Clay Freeman, Juan De Dios Jimenez, Blake Pirtle, Landon Clayton, Reagan Clayton, Tommy Strong, Wade Clark and Wesley Virden. Honorary Pallbearers will be Alton Stone and Mario Cavazos. The family and friends will meet from 5pm -- 7pm Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to Hospice of East Texas 4111 University Drive Tyler, Texas 75701. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com

Jo Juana Houston

August 30, 1941 - December 2, 2012