Jo Dona “Jo D” Armstrong
Jo Dona (Jo D) Duncan Armstrong passed away at home on Monday, April 21, 2025 at the age of 58 after an extended battle against cancer, a battle she fought with strength and grace and without complaints.
Born on July 20, 1966, Jo D grew up in Noel, Missouri, a small town in the southwest corner of the state. There she was a gifted athlete, excelling in both basketball and golf in high school. As a point guard on the basketball team, she was on the 1983 team that won the Missouri State Class 3A Girls Basketball title. This led to her Class of 2022 induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 1980- 1983 Era of McDonald County High School Girls Basketball.
As a golfer, in 1984 Jo D joined the McDonald County High School golf team, which had just been added to the curriculum. Not only was she the only girl on the team, she was the only girl in the Big Six Conference on a varsity boys’ team. Her golfing skills landed her a scholarship at Southwest Missouri State University. Upon graduating, Jo D spent time testing her skills as a professional golfer but ultimately decided to accept the position of Director of Golf Instruction at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, MO, in 2000, a position she held for nearly 25 years. In addition to giving individual and group golf lessons, she developed and managed a successful junior golf program and also helped nurture and grow the Ladies Evening Golf Social (LEGS) group.
Jo D competed in the World Long Drive Championship several times. Her best performance was finishing 2nd in 2001. She was also a competitor on the 2005 golf reality show, The Big Break V, which was filmed on Oahu, HI.
Jo D was a devoted wife as well as a loving mother to “fur-babies,” Tripp (Westie) and Macey (Tabby). Jo D is survived by her adoring husband of 17 years, Scott Armstrong, her mother Sharon Duncan, her brother Mark (Becky) Duncan, her sister DeeAnna Duncan and 3 nephews and 2 nieces. She was preceded in death by her father Donald Duncan.
Jo D’s lasting legacy will be the passion she had for golf and for life, both of which she tried to pass on to each and every one of her students regardless of their age or skill level. We Love You and will Miss You.
A Celebration of Life will be held on May 18, 2025 from 1pm-4pm at Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Drive, St. Louis, MO 63121
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Jo D Armstrong to Evelyn’s House, in care of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital; 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 140; St. Louis, MO, 63110.
It was truly a blessing to meet Jo D.. she will always have a place in my heart.. sending love and prayers to the family..
I will always remember JoD for her zest of life; her infectious smile; and her ability to always put others first. She could identify a golf issue in 3 swings. JoD was one of the ‘good’ ones, and will be missed.
JoD was the most positive person I met. That carried her to build, not only a great amount of friends, but also an ability to challenge her illness with a winning attitude. She was not only a golf Pro, but a Pro at life. JoD’s presence was a gift to all. May she rest in peace.
JoD was the most positive person. That carried her to build, not only a great amount of friends, but also an ability to challenge her illness with a winning attitude. She was not only a golf Pro, but a Pro at life. JoD’s presence was a gift to all. May she rest in peace.
Jo D was so welcoming to us when we joined Norwood Hills CC in 2006. She was so full of life and had such a passion for helping people improve their golf games.
We send hopes and prayers to Scott and her family that their happy memories of Jo D will ease the sadness of losing her.
JoD was such a positive, inspirational person; extending a listening ear & heart and giving a well deserved nudge (or push) if she thought you were stuck. Anyone who took JoD’s golf clinics or instructional sessions, know she used relatable life terms to describe particular golf techniques, including, what to do with “the girls” to achieve that proper golf swing. JoD will be sorely missed. I will treasure her handwritten notes she doled out after each golf instruction.
Eternal rest grant unto her Oh Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
JoD was priceless! I loved going to her clinics. We all learned a lot and had many laughs. Her dry sense of humor and witty ways of helping us remember Golf maneuvers will never be forgotten! (I guess I probably shouldn’t write some of these expressions down ….but anyone that went to her clinic knows exactly what I mean.)🤣🤣🤣
When we joined Norwood Hills as a family, our four boys took lessons from JoD…they went on to become avid golfers with a real love for the game. They went through the junior golf program and then ended up helping teach junior Golf with JoD in the Summers.
Our grandchildren then proceeded to go through the junior golf program. JoD had a way of connecting with people giving her students full attention with unforgettable golf experiences.
She will be missed greatly! What a blessing she was to have in our lives!
JoD was the best aunt a nephew could ask for. She gave me all the love and support . She was always making me laugh. Looking back on her presence in my life I think the most important thing she offered me was her presence alone. She was so attentive and always saw me for who I was. I love you always and forever Aunt JoD
Rest in Peace, JoD. I will always remember you getting us hooked on “crack” (peanuts and candy corn) that you made for us. Such a generous soul. You will be missed by many.