Jo Ann Wilson

Jo Ann (Craig) Wilson, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 25, 2021. She was born in Elgin on August 7, 1935, to Edna Prinz and Marcell Craig.  She attended Elgin High School and graduated with the Class of ’53.  While attending Elgin High, she was a cheerleader and played on the school’s basketball team, where she made life-long friendships.

After graduation, she married Lawson Balch.  The couple had three children, Mike, Steve, and Amy.  They traveled throughout the Country the first five years of their marriage with Lawson’s work, and eventually settled back to the family farm in Elgin.

She loved catching up with her friends during monthly luncheons.  It was during one of these luncheons, she reconnected with Jack Wilson and the two dated for almost nine years, before they were married in May of 2003, at Central Christian Church. Jo Ann attended Elgin United Methodist Church since she was a little girl but decided to join Central Christian Church after she married Jack.  After joining Central Christian Church, she; her daughter, Amy; and her granddaughter, BreAuna were all three baptized together in a multi-generational baptism by Pastor Wayne Mottern.

Jo Ann retired from the Supreme Court’s Board of Law Examiners in 1993. After retirement, she continued to work as an educational substitute, as the Church Secretary at Central Christian Church, volunteered for over 15 years with Meals on Wheels, was a proud member of the Red Hat Society, and enjoyed spending time with her grandkids.

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, music, bowling, volleyball, crafts, playing cards, board games, bunco, bridge, and collecting coffee mugs.  She loved to attend the Lady Longhorn basketball games with her best friend, Tommie Nell Hill Suarez.  Jack and Jo Ann enjoyed attending church, dancing, traveling, and going on cruises together.

She is preceded in death by both her parents; her son, Mike; three brothers, Charles Ray Moon, Curtis “Happy” Craig, and Marvin Craig.

She is survived by her husband of over 18 years, Jack Wilson; her daughter, Amy and husband, Carl Nall; her son, Steve Balch; her grandchildren, BreAuna Kirkman, Marissa Ann Dosser, and Weston Hank Balch; four great-grandchildren; her brother, Marcell; and numerous nieces, nephews, church family, and lifelong friends.

Serving with Grace and Dignity as Pallbearers are Steve Balch, Brandon Blaine, Timmy Balch, Murry Woods, Raymond Garcia, Joe Moon, Curtis Craig, and Marvin Craig.  Honorary Pallbearers are Tommie Nell Hill Suarez, Mike Wilson, and BreAuna Kirkman.

Family and Friends will gather for Visitation at Elgin Funeral Home, Wednesday, June 30th from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.  Funeral Services will be conducted at Elgin Funeral Home, Thursday, July 1st at 10:00 AM with the Reverend, Kevin Haywood presiding.  Interment will follow at Elgin Cemetery.

Memorial Contribution can be made in Jo Ann’s Memory to Central Christian Church.