JoAnne Montgomery Truitt Moore

JoAnne Montgomery Truitt Moore gently entered The Peaceable Kingdom on November 24, 2025, overlooking the banks of the majestic Guadalupe River, New Braunfels, Texas. We celebrate her beautiful life, gracious heart and rich, enduring legacy. There are some people who have the Sun inside them. JoAnne had an internal being that shed light on everyone in her life, and it felt like Sun. Her presence brightened our lives with unconditional love; her inner peace warmed us with calm. We are filled with grace that the best of JoAnne lives on in each of us.

On May 1, 1935, JoAnne was delivered by a doctor who arrived at the family farmhouse by horseback in Lesley, Hall County, Texas, a small farming community founded by her Montgomery ancestors. She lived the fullest life gifted to her, waking up and exclaiming with joy each day: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

JoAnne’s long professional career soared, because she always remembered who she was and where she came from. She wrote about her earliest memories, which served as the foundation for the rest of her life: “I was the oldest of three children. My brother and I came along in the mid 1930’s during the Great Depression. We lived on a farm homesteaded by my Grandfather. We experienced the dust bowl days. Life was hard, and there was little money to buy necessities, much less books, magazines or newspapers. Our weekly ritual of driving 29 miles to town was both a treat and a necessity. We were treated with visits to the library, where we browsed for just the right book to take home and enjoy. My sister arrived along with electricity and running water in the early 1940’s.”

JoAnne shared: “Knowing and loving Texas libraries is a passion. Our Mom taught us the joys and privileges of education. Her love of reading and learning was contagious. My Dad influenced us to work hard and lead the way at school and on the farm.”

JoAnne graduated from Clarendon High School, and then Clarendon Junior College where she was valedictorian and met the “dashing and handsome Darrell Truitt”, the nephew of the President of Clarendon Junior College. Darrell aptly called JoAnne “Sunshine”, and the two married and went on to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees at West Texas State University.

Darrell joined the Army as a commissioned officer and was stationed in Fort Ord, Monterey, California, where JoAnne joined him; she was a devoted military spouse. Their first daughter, Terri Lynne, was born there in 1959. Darrell was next stationed to Korea as a Green Beret Army Officer; upon his return, the couple was stationed to Fort Benning, Georgia, where their second daughter, Tanya Layne, was born in 1962.

JoAnne went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Education at West Texas State University, Professional All Level Library Media Specialist Degree at Texas Women’s University and Administrative Supervisor Certification at Texas Tech University.

JoAnne embarked on a lifelong, dynamic and fruitful career in education and library science. She believed that libraries “are literally that place that contains the fountain of knowledge and wisdom.” JoAnne began as a reading clinician and school librarian at River Road Independent School District in Amarillo, Texas. She was then elevated to the Director of Libraries for Amarillo Independent School District. JoAnne next took the helm as Director of Libraries for Dallas Independent School District, where she led the Technology 2000 Project automating and networking all 200 libraries of Dallas schools. She served as the President of the 8000 member Texas Library Association, which represents school, public, academic and specialty libraries across the state, the largest professional association in the State of Texas and one of the largest in the nation. She served a six-year term on the Council of the Texas State Library. Later, JoAnne served as a Library Media Consultant for the Texas Library Connection with the Texas Education Agency, traveling the State of Texas and training librarians on the state-wide technology network of 5500 schools. For decades, JoAnne served in leadership roles in dozens of education and library professional organizations. JoAnne tirelessly presented numerous speeches and programs for conferences, civic organizations, parent groups and public libraries, and she has been published extensively.

While excelling in her professional career, JoAnne also made time to serve others lovingly, living her life defined by purpose in the service of others. JoAnne served as Deacon and Elder of First Presbyterian Church Amarillo, on the Presbyterian Church Peacemaking Task Force, Chairman of Amarillo Association of Congregations, librarian of Austin’s First Baptist Church, board member for Multiple Sclerosis, chairman of Amarillo Community Disaster Assistance, family selection committee for Habitat for Humanity; and she worked for the American Red Cross, United Way, American Heart Association, Meals on Wheels, Amarillo Opportunity House, and many more charitable and philanthropic organizations.

In her long professional career and her extraordinary public service, JoAnne inspired countless others: “While we are all a part of something greater than we are—both good and bad—we have the power to effect change in our organizations and communities both now and in the future. We can make a profound difference when we play our personal and professional roles with passion and energy.”

JoAnne’s magnetic spirit engaged everyone she met her entire life, and she never met a stranger. JoAnne held a deep belief in the inherent goodness of people. JoAnne wrote “One of the greatest joys in life is a warm friendship that lasts through the years.” And indeed, JoAnne was blessed with so many cherished and close friendships throughout her life. JoAnne was steadfastly devoted to her family and friends and loved them passionately and unconditionally. And, oh how she loved to have fun with her loved ones! JoAnne loved theatre, movies, reading, dancing, traveling worldwide, shopping, dining, her Spurs championship basketball team and lunching with her Red Hat Society of Wimberley.

Reflecting on her life, JoAnne wrote “Were we destined to make a difference in the world? I believe we all did through our families, our professions, our communities and the church. Our beliefs and values painted a portrait of our real self, then and now.”  What a colorful and stunning masterpiece of life JoAnne painted!

For the last 10 years of JoAnne’s exceptional life, she bravely endured Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). LBD never defined her life, but it certainly illuminated JoAnne’s courage and character. LBD is a combination of Parkinson’s disease and dementia, which has no cure and is fatal. JoAnne was cognizant of her illness and accepted it with bravery and grace, and, as is true to her nature, even with humor. She generously agreed early on that her illness could be shared with others so that she could shine a light on and bring awareness to LBD, advance research for cures, and help other patients with LBD coming after her. To the amazement of her doctors, JoAnne was a high functioning LBD patient for many years and remained active with a remarkable quality of life. With no hesitation, JoAnne generously gave her doctors permission to publish medical journal articles about her case and use it as a teaching tool in medical schools. JoAnne’s case is now taught in medical schools in courses focusing on major neurocognitive disorders, particularly about the protective effects that JoAnne’s extraordinary education and her family support had on her aging and dementia. Her doctor cited JoAnne’s thoughtfulness of everyone else and her unselfish contributions recognizing the importance of researching LBD, calling her “an incredible woman!” “Her work with me has influenced many doctors, psychologists, pharmacists and nurses who are just entering practice now.” JoAnne’s unselfish commitment to further advancements in LBD knowledge has and will impact LBD patients and will live on as her final generous legacy.

JoAnne’s daughters lovingly nicknamed her “Jonana”. True to her promise at the early stage of her illness, she never once forgot who her daughters were, she was always “In There”, and she exuded love and light with her gracious heart, beautiful smile, loving eyes, humor and unwavering gratitude, even in the depths of LBD. Jonana was simply the most extraordinary, loving and devoted mother on the planet. We will continue to sense her support and feel her guidance as we move forward, knowing that the power of Jonana’s love is eternal. Gracious to the end, the last beautiful word Jonana spoke was “Thanks” … an enduring gift to her daughter Terri.

Jonana’s last chapter cannot be written, because the sunshine that is now her cherished memory will never be extinguished, and our conversation with her continues forevermore. We wish our beloved soulmate Jonana enduring peace in her eternal Peaceable Kingdom surrounded by all her loved ones, knowing, always, that her vibrant life and her immense love will be forever etched in our hearts. Jonana’s soul resides in our souls, and she is alive in us always, now as ever before.

Jonana, you are light, sunshine and energy floating all around and in us. You stand on a mountain top. You take our breath away. Shalom, beloved Jonana.

JoAnne was preceded in their journeys to The Peaceable Kingdom by her father William Smith Montgomery, the last of the true Texas cowboys who taught her to be a leader, her mother Roberta Fay Montgomery, who inspired her thirst of knowledge and the written word, Darrell Warren Truitt, the love of her life and father of her daughters, her beloved brother Grady “Bub” Montgomery, and her cherished little sister Sherry Noel Semrad. JoAnne is survived by her devoted daughters, Terri Lynne Truitt and Tanya Layne Truitt Puroff, grandchildren, Leah and Nicholas, great grandchildren Jordan and Remington, great, great grandchildren Blakleigh and Blaine, and her therapy grand dogs, Kasbah and Mojo.

JoAnne’s last phase of life was attended to and made comfortable and meaningful by her caring and outstanding physicians, Dr. Lucy Wilkening and Dr. Jerry Castilleja, and her long-time, devoted caregiver, Ofelia Pina, to all of whom we share our grateful thanks.

JoAnne’s rich life and legacy will be celebrated in Spring 2026 at her home with daughter Terri Truitt on the banks of the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, and later at First Presbyterian Church, Clarendon, Texas, founded by her Grandfather. Finally, on her first heavenly birthday, May 1, 2026, at the time when nature reawakens, JoAnne will go back home to her roots, her childhood home, the land upon which she labored as a girl hoeing weeds out of the grand cotton fields with her bonnet on to protect her from the harsh Texas sun, lovingly made by her Granny. JoAnne will return to her family’s homestead, where she was taught to the lead the adult “hands” by her Father, and where she learned to love the written word and life-long learning from her brilliant Mother. JoAnne will be one with the wild and majestic lands bordering on the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River flowing out of Palo Duro Canyon with the most glorious sunsets on the planet. Then, JoAnne will be home. Shalom.

JoAnne’s daughters request that gift memorials honoring JoAnne’s beautiful life and legacy be donated to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at lbda.org, to further important research into the causes, prevention and possible cures for Lewy Body Dementia.