JoAnna Thompson White Moreland

JoAnna Thompson White Moreland, who died in Dallas on January 18, was a true Texan whose life began on October 26 in the rugged days of 1924 Laredo. Although she described her early days in Hebbronville as “the most idyllic childhood a girl could desire,” she also relished her grandfather’s testimony that Pancho Villa would always leave a bottle of tequila as payment for his passage across the ranch (while rustling cattle).

A Memorial Mass will be held at Calvary Hill Main Mausoleum, 3235 Lombardy Lane, Dallas, Tx 75220, Thursday, January 25 at 10:00 A.M., with recitation of the rosary at 9:30 A.M.

JoAnna was the daughter of Josephine Stone and Webster Thompson. She later lived in multiple locations across the USA with her mother and stepfather, Everett Plummer, an Army colonel and noted raconteur. She was educated at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and soon thereafter married Lt. Robert F. White in 1945.

Bob’s unfortunate death in 1959 left JoAnna the single mother of four ornery children, all of whom have become less so in adulthood. Her working life began as parish secretary at St. Monica Church and transitioned to a 28 year career as Executive Director of the Dallas Bar Association, a vocation that produced dozens of close friendships and hundreds of amusing anecdotes.

Sporting an unrivaled sense of humor, JoAnna was generous to a fault (although her seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren consider her munificence to be just right). An avid volunteer at St. Rita Parish (serving as a Eucharistic minister, rosary maker, member of Bible study groups, bread ministry coordinator, and much more), she was also an articulate advocate for social justice.

JoAnna is survived by her daughter Cynthia Erler and her husband Donald of Georgetown, daughter Robin McCormick and her husband Timothy of Dallas, son Stephen White and his wife Cynthia of Houston, and daughter Amy Salazar and her husband John of Austin.

JoAnna requested that in lieu of flowers, donations could be sent to Adults Independent and Motivated (7412 Black Mountain, Austin 78736) or on-line at www.AIMTX.org.