Grandma Jo, as she was affectionately called by family and friends alike, passed away at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula. She died of natural causes after suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s for a number of years. All who knew her feel that our lives are richer for having loved and known her.<\/p>\n
Jo was born to Court and Emma Sheriff in Helena on July 5, 1920, and raised at Canyon Ferry. She often told of her family roots at Canyon Ferry, which go back to when her grandfather settled there in 1865. As a young girl, her desire was to be outside helping on the family ranch or caring for and riding her horses, a passion she never lost, even after she sold the ranch and moved to Helena. Even then, her bright red pickup reminded her of who she was. Jo always felt most comfortable in her jeans, and those attending the service are welcome to dress in jeans as a tribute.<\/p>\n
Jo\u2019s early schooling was at Canyon Ferry, where one year she and her brother Van were the only students. She was also part of the Helena High class that attended school in railroad cars after an earthquake destroyed the school. She attended Montana State College (University) and was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.
\nJo married Ray Johnson in Nov. 1946. They had two daughters, Judi and Rene (Lorain). While raising their young family, they lived at Canyon Ferry and provided post office, restaurant, and bar services for the people building the present Canyon Ferry Dam. They also helped her brother build the Yacht Basin Marina for the new Canyon Ferry Lake.<\/p>\n
After the dam was finished, the family moved to Butte and then Helena. She worked at the Butte Stock Yard and later in Helena at the Lewis and Clark Co. Clerk and Recorder office. The family moved back to Canyon Ferry to run the ranch after Jo\u2019s parents died, which brought her back to the lifestyle she loved best. Her independent and strong spirit carried her through the hard working years ahead. After Ray passed away she married Kenneth Cope in August 1966.<\/p>\n
Jo continued to live at Canyon Ferry until 2001, when she moved back to Helena. Here she pursued her other interests of travel, reading and golf. But especially she kept track of her wonderful grandchildren, attending all graduations and weddings. All who knew her knew she was a MSU Bobcat thru and thru. She loved the state of Montana and often read of the pioneers who settled the state. She belonged to the ladies lunch groups from York and Canyon Ferry, the Montana Pioneers club, and the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
In 2009 she moved to Missoula to be near her daughter. By her life she showed us that we are braver then we believe, stronger then we seem, and smarter than we think. She will be greatly missed, and not a 4th of July will go by that we won\u2019t think of all her birthday cakes decorated like an American flag!<\/p>\n
She is preceded in death by daughter Lorain O\u2019Connell, husband Ray Johnson, husband Ken Cope, sister Mary Spain, and parents Court and Emma Sheriff.<\/p>\n
Survivors include her daughter Judi Calahan (David) of Missoula; brother Van Sheriff (Peg) of Canyon Ferry; son-in-law Tom O\u2019Connell (Barb) of Helena; six grandchildren, Brett Calahan (Melanie) of Missoula, Jill Calahan Benoit (Bob) of Kirkland, WA, Erin O\u2019Connell Turner (Robert) of Polson, Janna O\u2019Connell Tangedahl (Eric) of Missoula, Stacey Calahan Miller (Todd) of Redmond, WA, and Amy O\u2019Connell Elliott (Lindan) of Kalispell. Five great-grandchildren, Colt and Joslyn Calahan, Reed and Joseph Benoit, Conner Turner, Mason Miller and Ella Elliott; step-daughter Marlene Cope Waterland of Ekalaka and Kory Johnson and Cason Johnson of Bozeman.<\/p>\n
There will be a vigil at Retz Funeral Home at 7:00 Thursday night. Services will be 1:00 pm, Friday at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, on Canyon Ferry Lake, with Father O\u2019Donnell officiating. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, P.O. box 1110, East Helena, MT. 59635, or to the American Cancer Society, Northwest Division, 550 N. 31st St. #103, Billings, MT 59101. To offer a condolence or share a memory of Jo, please visit: www.retzfuneralhome.com.<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/1286058.jpg","youtube_video_url":"","family_email":"","family_first_name":"","family_last_name":"","event_title5":"","event_date5":"","start_time5":"","end_time5":"","location5":"","address5":"","city5":"","state5":"","zipcode5":"","event_title6":"","event_date":"","start_time6":"","end_time6":"","location6":"","address6":"","city6":"","state6":"","zipcode6":"","event_title7":"","event_date7":"","start_time7":"","end_time7":"","location7":"","address7":"","city7":"","state7":"","zipcode7":"","event_title8":"","event_date8":"","start_time8":"","end_time8":"","location8":"","address8":"","city8":"","state8":"","zipcode8":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/23381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}