JoAnne M. Murray (Fernando), left us heartbroken to find peace after a valiant battle with COPD and cancer for the third time. JoAnne was born in St Louis, Mo to Frank Fernando and Josephine ‘Beanie’ Harris (Beirne), on August 30, 1938. She passed away on June 1, 2026 in her home surrounded by family who did not want her to go but knew it was time for her to leave us, as always, on her terms. 

JoAnne was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Joseph Harris, and sons Steven Rowens and Jimmy Jones. She is survived by her daughter Karen Rice (Rick) and sons Michael (Tara), Matthew (Tammy), and Patrick Murray. Grams was her superpower and she loved nothing more than the time spent with her nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren she adored. Her grandchildren all have memories of trips to the park, DQ,  feeding the ducks and of course helping her bake cookies to take home. Anne Marie, Jimmy, Rachel, Tiffany, Chelsea, Caitlin, Connor, Cannon, Andrew, Aidan, Olivia, Megan and Piper will always remember their Grams. JoAnne was also a Great-Grandmother to Mathias, Wren, Willow and Cruz. She was also a trusted cousin that knew the family stories and a friend to many.

JoAnne grew up in St. Louis on Hodiamont Ave and attended St Rose elementary and Nerinx Hall. She began working as a casino change girl in the late 1950s at the Westerner in Las Vegas. She was able to see the Rat Pack and Don Rickles perform in her time spent in Henderson and made lifelong friends she stayed in contact with for decades. She returned to St Louis in the mid 60s and was the proprietor of JoAnnes Place on Newstead Ave till the mid 70s. She worked at the St Louis County Courthouse for a decade before leaving for full time work at Western Union where she had worked part time evenings and weekends. Her legendary work ethic was fueled by four to five hours sleep a night as she always looked to work overtime and some holidays for the extra pay.

JoAnne bought, sold, rented and gifted several properties she bought in her 50s and 60s. Through hard work and a frugal approach she had seven properties at one point that she owned, rented and sometimes gifted to loved ones. She was not only generous with her kids and grandkids, she shared her time and money with several organizations over the years. She held multiple volunteer roles at All Souls Parochial School, and donated generously to the Ritenour CoCare Food Pantry, Salvation Army, The American Cancer Society and Wounded Warriors among others.

JoAnne loved to travel, especially with family to beaches in Florida. She spent over a decade being a snow bird in Destin, renting a condo for two months and the upstairs condo for a month so her kids’ families could vacation with her on their spring breaks. In her own words JoAnne lived a long and full life and her time had come. She loved deeply and encountered obstacles that would take the spirit and fight out of most people, but not JoAnne. She laughed often and tried to hide her pain from her kids, always protecting them as best she could. JoAnne always wanted her kids to feel wanted and loved, same for her grandchildren. Great job Mom, you did it! Love you Darlin’.

A Celebration of Life will be held for JoAnne on Saturday, August 22nd from 12pm-3pm at Nick and Elena’s Pizzeria, 3007 Woodson Rd, Overland Mo, 63114. This was her favorite place for family birthday celebrations and the annual Christmas party she loved to plan and celebrate with her family and friends.

Donations can be made in JoAnne’s honor to the Ritenour CoCare Food Pantry, the Salvation Army or the American Cancer Society.