Jo Anne Molloy

Jo Anne Molloy 1955 - 2023, age 68, passed away at home in El Cajon, California on December 5, 2023 with her husband of 23 years, Doug by her side. Jo was born November 23, 1955, in Pensacola, Florida to Kenneth and Mildred (“Millie”) Sharpe and lived in Puerto Rico, Pensacola and Virginia Beach, Virginia where she graduated from Bayside High School before going off to college in Prescott Arizona.

Jo lived her life fully and passionately with an amazing child-like spirit, never tiring of adventure or questioning perceived norms. She was spontaneous and always on the go. Those who knew her delighted in her playful and sometimes mischievous personality. Jo exhibited a true love of nature and always wanted to be outside whether it be hiking in the local SoCal mountains, walking on the beach or simply hanging out by the pool at home soaking up the sun.

Wherever she was in life she was always trying to surround herself with mother nature and the next daily adventure. Jo exuded a deep love for the animals around her and in her life. Her dogs were her near constant companions taking them on walks at Liberty Station, hikes in the mountains and walks on the beach in Coronado. Jo absolutely loved to surf in her early years while living in Santa Barbara and she was an avid swimmer. She once swam the Long Island Sound with a contingent of members from the Coral Casino. Jo had an artist’s eye for color and decorating and do-dinked endlessly making her and Doug’s house a home.

Jo and Doug met in Virginia Beach when Jo was visiting her mother on a trip home from California. It was the weekend following Thanksgiving when Jo and her childhood friend Marian planned to go to Annabelle's, a local restaurant in Pembroke Mall. Marian had invited Doug to join them who had intended on a quick bite to eat before turning in for an early evening at home. Once Doug joined Marian and Jo, the conversation became lively and animated. Before dinner’s end, Jo had invited Doug to come to her mother’s house the next day for a leftover Thanksgiving dinner - promising the single man a hearty plate of turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. The next day Doug arrived early while everyone except Jo was at church. She promptly made him the promised Thanksgiving plate and afterward Doug invited Jo to go to an afternoon movie. That chance meeting at Annabelle’s led to a 23 year marriage and 23 years of adventures and friendship.

Jo had an independent spirit about herself, and she often approached life in atypical ways. When Doug and Jo were stationed in Guam, they lived in Navy housing with many of the other military families stationed there. Each house had a garage and driveway, and everyone parked their cars nose first. As the consummate norms breaker Jo did not. She refused to park the car nose first making the self determination that it was far easier to load dive gear and other adventure equipment if she parked the car perpendicular to the driveway. You can only imagine how such a minor adjustment might come as an affront to the rigid discipline of many of the military men. On more than one occasion Doug fielded queries from senior officers asking why Jo would park the car in such an atypical manner. Of course, Doug could only offer to these officers - assaulted as they were, with the break from standardization that Jo just couldn’t park straight so she parked across the driveway to avoid being teased about her parking. Jo found it amusing how others would take umbrage from her parking habits and continued to park in this manner, knowing as she did how much it chaffed those accustomed to order and discipline. Despite this, Jo was a real patriot and absolutely loved being a Navy wife and supporting the troops.

Jo is survived by her husband Douglas Molloy and her brother Richard Harrison Sharpe of Canastota, New York, and her two dear companions Sassafras and Lakshmi. She was previously married to George Cassill. Her unexpected departure has left a hole in Doug’s life that cannot be easily filled. Doug misses her terribly, but he is ever grateful for the wonderful years they spent together and the light she shone in his life. Rest in peace Jo, you live on in our hearts and we miss you greatly.