Jo Ann Bennett Ida

Jo Ann Bennett Ida, 85, of Fort Scott, passed away on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, at home after suffering a stroke in November 2009.

Jo Ann was born on Oct. 22, 1924, in Magnolia, Ark., the daughter of Thomas Leslie and Ruth Roper Bennett. Jo Ann lived her early life in Magnolia and graduated from Magnolia Senior High School. She received her Associate degree in the Arts from Southern Arkansas University in 1944. She was active in the community in Magnolia from an early age especially the First United Methodist Church in Magnolia. She married Joseph A. Ida on Oct. 7, 1950. Jo Ann and Joe moved from Magnolia to Louisville, Ky., in 1957 where they started their business, Extrusions, Inc. In 1963, Jo Ann and Joe relocated the business to Fort Scott.

Jo Ann was a lovely giving Christian woman who served others her entire life. She worked for many years with Joe in their family owned business, as the corporate secretary and treasurer. She was active in the First United Methodist Church of Fort Scott where she served on many committees to help grow and maintain the church. She was active in the PEO Sisterhood, the Red Hat Society, a bridge club and many more activities especially those supporting her family. She was an avid reader and an outstanding cook who took great pleasure in spending time with her family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Joe, of the home; one daughter and her husband, Billie and Mack Forrester, of Dallas, Texas; one son and his wife, Matt and Janet Ida, of Fort Scott; three grandchildren, Leslie Adele Hinton, of Houston, Texas, Caitlin Ida Ashworth, of San Francisco, Calif., and Joseph C. Ida of Fort Scott; one great-granddaughter, Audrey Adele Hinton, of Houston, Texas; and one sister, Bess McLaughlin of Midland, Texas; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Dorothy Bennett Miller; and her brother, Billy Donovan Bennett.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 1, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Scott, with the Rev. Paul Babcock officiating. A private burial service will be held at the National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28, in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Scott or to the PEO Sisterhood Scholarship Foundation and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

The family wishes to thank the members of Hospice Compassus and Helping Hands who cared so lovingly for Jo Ann during her illness.