of West Memphis, AR

January 8, 1934 - May 25, 2023

Joed ''Jo'' R. Bland, 89, passed away on May 25, 2023 in Marion, Arkansas surrounded by her family. She was born on January 8,1934 to Edward and Josephine Graves in St. Louis, Missouri.

She grew up in St. Louis and moved to West Memphis, Arkansas in1959 with her husband and two sons. She had her third son in 1960 and four years later had a daughter to complete the family. She was a devout member of St. Michaels Catholic Church in West Memphis for 64 years. She was an active member of the Infant of Prague Guild. After being a homemaker until 1974, she took a part time job in the insurance industry, where she would then become the administrative assistant to the VP. She retired from Idealease in Memphis at age 70. After retirement, she joined the Silver Sneakers at The Works where she was a regular. She became an active member of the Butterflies Group (widows) at St. Michaels, where she loved playing cards with her dear friends on Sunday afternoons. She also was the treasurer of the Twenty Club in West Memphis.

Joed was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Bland; her son, David Bland; her parents; her brother, Tom Graves and sister, June Fain.

Survivors include two sons, Dickie Bland (Becky) of West Memphis, Arkansas and Gary Bland (Mary) of Memphis, Tennessee; one daughter, Sharon Bland Truitt (Kelly) of Memphis, Tennessee; grandchildren, Paige Bland Mims (Drew) of Texarkana, Texas, Ross Bland of Memphis, Tennessee, Connor Truitt of Austin, Texas and Callan Truitt of Fayetteville, Arkansas; great-grandchildren, Lucy Mims and Meredith Mims and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at St. Michaels Catholic Church (411 N. Missouri St.) in West Memphis with the Rosary following at 10:45 and the funeral service at 11:00. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Crittenden Memorial Park in Marion, Arkansas.

Memorials may be sent to St. Michaels Catholic Church or the charity of your choice.

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