Jo D. Overton

Mrs. Jo Dorsey Overton was born November 11, 1927 in Bristow, Oklahoma, to the union of Jasper and Rosa Lee Howell. She was the last born of four children to this union. She departed this life on June 2, 2021, surrounded by ones who loved her dearly. She was raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and proudly announced that to all, that she was “an Okie from Muskogee!” as she often shared fond memories of growing up there with her mother and grandmother watching closely over her.

She graduated from Muskogee’s Manuel Training High School, and continued her education by earning a certificate in cosmetology during those early years.

After her schooling, she relocated to Kansas City, Missouri where she met the love of her life, Walter N. Overton, whom she joined in holy matrimony on May 2, 1950. Though there were no children born to this union, there was enough love between the two of them to keep them devoted in commitment for 71 years.

In her lifetime, Mrs. Overton worked as a childcare provider, foster care mom, music instructor, and church musician. It was her talent as a skilled musician that she will be most remembered for. She was known to play masterfully, both piano and the organ (though she preferred piano), and blessed many churches in Muskogee and Kansas City with her talent. She would proudly tell how she had never taken a music lesson herself, and she praised the Lord for her gift, which was from God Himself. “God gave it to me!” she would say- and all who ever heard her play were truly blessed.

Mrs. Overton was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings; Sylvester, Rufus, and Victoria. She is survived by cousins; Jewell Maynard (Marvin), Patricia Rhymes, Dr. LaVerne Wimberly, Don Wofford (Linda), and their families, as well as other relatives, in-laws, and friends who loved her and will miss her dearly.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Saturday, June 12 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Saturday, June 12 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.