Jo Danford

Matty Jo Danford, 93, passed away August 10, 2015. Jo was born January 19^th, 1922 in Comanche, Texas to John and Beulah Ann (Bradley) Giles, the eighth of their daughters. When she was two years old, the family moved to Sinton, Texas where she was reared, and where many of that generation lived and died. In Sinton High School, Jo became a member of the National Honor Society and was involved in anything and everything musical – band, a cappella chorus, girls glee club, girls sextet, etc. She attended Abilene Christian College, then went to work as an engineering secretary for Exxon Corporation in Corpus Christi for many years until her retirement in 1973.

Jo married Paul Russell Danford in Corpus Christi in 1970. Shortly after Russell’s retirement from Reynolds Metals Company, they built a home in Portland, Texas. Jo and Russell were active and faithful members of the North Bay Church of Christ in Portland for many years. They were both selfless and humble servants of God and performed countless acts of service for the members of their assembly, were always available to lend a hand to any of their neighbors, and provided comfort and support to their large network of family and friends in sickness and in health.

As one of the Giles girls, Jo and her sisters never let more than a day or two pass without talking and laughing together, and they stayed in constant communication in later years keeping up with their growing families’ activities, following the Dallas Cowboys football fortunes, sharing travelogues and silly jokes, gathering to celebrate holidays, and generally supporting each other in all of life’s events. The old Giles’ homestead in Sinton was the hub of joyful family gatherings for many, many years and provided a wealth of treasured memories of good food, laughter, growing children, and sweet, harmonious voices of the Giles sisters raised together in song. In later years, Jo became the family’s “grand, central switchboard,” and every birth announcement, graduation notice, career advancement, surgery or illness, political opinion, or even the latest family gossip passed through her to then be distributed throughout the efficient family network of nieces and nephews and on to other relatives and friends at large.

Jo was predeceased by her parents and 10 of her sisters: Flossie Gore, Ruth Holbrook, Hazel White, Audrey Thomas, Grace Chick, Ura Deen Ware, Ima Deen Eddy, Bobby Moore, Tommy Eichblatt and Le Moyne Grissom. She was beloved by her family and friends for her delightful sense of humor, energy and positive outlook on life.

Jo was cherished by her nieces and nephews for her lifelong enthusiasm, interest and support for all of their educational and career accomplishments. She is survived by her husband Paul Russell Danford; step-children Edwin (Gail) Danford and Joyce (Hugh) Smith; grandchildren Dr. Conor Smith, Dr. Tristan (Vi) Smith and Hayley Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 13, 2015 at the Limbaugh Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 14, 2015 at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at North Bay Church of Christ in Portland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kings Crossing Prison Ministries, Kings Crossing Church of Christ, 5901 Yorktown Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas 78414-9983.