Jo Ann Sweet

Jo Ann Sweet Jo Ann Sweet (Montya) passed away peacefully the morning of December 25, 2019.  She was born September 14, 1930 to Lottie Mae Robinson (Montya) in Fort Worth Texas.  The family moved to Indian Gap Texas and resided there until Jo Ann was 13 years old.  She completed High School in Fort Worth and attended Texas Wesleyan University.  In both High School and College, Jo Ann participated in competitive sports, primarily baseball, basketball, and tennis.  After completing an Associates degree, she worked a few years in Cosmetology and supporting the family painting business.  In 1954 Jo Ann enlisted in the US Air Force and was deployed to Lackland AFB in San Antonio Texas, Eglin Air Force base in Florida, and Connally AFB in Waco Texas.  Her specialty was avionic photographic equipment repair through which she achieved the rank of Staff Sargent.  While at Connelly AFB she met her husband George H. Sweet, also in the Air Force, and left the service prior to the birth of her first son Martin in 1959. The Sweet family were deployed back to Lackland AFB, Kadena AFB in Okinawa, and Whiteman AFB in Missouri where she had her second son Gregory in 1970. After George’s retirement, Jo Ann and family lived in Daly City California, San Jose California, Waco Texas, and Albuquerque New Mexico. During the families time in the Air Force and after retirement Jo Ann worked as a teacher, predominantly preschool and elementary grades at Lutheran sponsored schools.  She loved children and many of her student’s families considered her a second Mom.  She was active in the Lutheran church, teaching both Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. In Waco and in Albuquerque Jo Ann was very active in the American Legion, holding many leadership posts.  She volunteered tirelessly to help Veterans, in particular aging and wounded Veterans and provided much comfort to many through her volunteering at the VA Hospital in Albuquerque. She is preceded in death by her sister Waydean Bryant, her brother Buddy Robinson, her two grandsons Russell and Brent Sweet, and her husband of 60 years, George H. Sweet.  She is survived by her sister Bobbie Brewer and family of Waco Texas, son Martin Sweet and family of Santa Fe New Mexico, and son Gregory Sweet and family of Albuquerque New Mexico.  Services will be held February 3rd at Rivera Family Funeral Home in Santa Fe at 11:00, followed by Military Honors at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 12:45.