Jonnie Lou (Smajastrla), age 92, passed away on Monday, May 31, 2021. Jonnie Lou was born in Elk, Texas (near Waco) on December 27, 1928, the youngest of 11 children born to John and Mary (Piter) Smajstrla.
In 1946, Jonnie Lou graduated from La Vega High School, where she earned a typing scholarship to Mary Hardin Baylor College. However, her life took a different direction and after graduation, she worked in the family cotton gin and general store. In 1951, she married her lifelong friend and neighbor, Bill Yowell. They made their home in Killeen and opened Gross-Yowell Lumber Company. Two daughters, Debbie and Sherrie, soon joined them. She was active in all aspects if their lives, from sewing costumes for dance recitals to making posters for school elections and halter breaking calves for 4H and FFA.
Jonnie Lou and her husband, Bill, enjoyed traveling with friends and had fond memories of the many cattle shows and Polled Hereford events that they attended over the years. Especially dear to them were their numerous RV adventures with Don and Jean Gautier and other RV friends.
Jonnie Lou was a prolific letter writer and if you were fortunate enough to receive a letter from her, then rest assured, you were now up to date on the latest family news. Over the years, she would faithfully send her many friends and relatives cards on the birthday or anniversary.
As long as her health permitted, Jonnie Lou was a member of the St. Joseph Altar Society and remained a great supporter of the St Joseph Catholic School (now St. Joseph Academy), where her daughters and now great-granddaughters attend elementary school. She was also a member of the Killeen chapter of the Texas A&M Mothers Club for many years and the Texas Polled Hereford Association.
She is survived by her 2 daughters, Debbie Yowell Farley (Bill) of Killeen and Sherrie Yowell Anderson of Austin; Grandsons Matthew Yowell (Sarah) of Killeen, Brant Farley (Patti) of Gatesville and Tanner Farley of Gatesville; Great-granddaughters Addison and Aubree Yowell and Great-grandson Chance Farley.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Bill, her parents John and Mary Smajstrla and her 3 brothers and 7 sisters.
A special thank you is extended to her caregivers of the last 5 years, Cinderella McCombs, Erma Allen and Sharon Fuqua who treated Mom with such love and kindness.
Visitation and rosary will be held at St. Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church on Sunday June 13, with visitation at 6:00pm and rosary at 7:00pm. Celebration of a Requiem Mass will be at St. Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church on Monday June 14, at 11:00am, with burial following at Killeen City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Joseph Academy, 2901 E. Rancier Avenue, Killeen 76543
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