Josephine Iona Lanehart

Josephine Iona Collett Lanehart

Josephine Iona Collett Lanehart passed away on October 3, 2023.  She was born in San Angelo to Hubert Carl Collett and Alpha Fern Smith Collett on May 18, 1923.  She always said she was going to live to 100, and she did!  

After high school she married Burton M. Lanehart shortly before he joined the Navy in 1942.  Less than a year later, their first child, Carol, was born.  After the war the family made their home in Iraan, Texas.   Their second child, Raymond Mark (Buddy) arrived in 1946.  Burton and Jo maintained their home in Iraan for 77 years.

During the early years, Josephine kept busy with the two kids and their school activities.  She was active in the garden club, kept books at the family Gulf station, and worked summers at the local swimming pool concession stand.  She enjoyed gardening and especially loved roses. Most of those years she cooked three meals a day, always with dessert, and was famous for her pecan pie.  In her 60s she was elected to the local school board and served as school board president for many years. After retirement, she and Burton enjoyed volunteering as park hosts at several state parks. Most summers were spent at the Davis Mountains State Park and most winters at Garner State Park.

Spending time with her grandchildren was one of Josephine’s favorite things. Her grandchildren especially enjoyed working on crafts, cooking, and spending time at the pool in the summers with JoJo.  She also enjoyed sharing in her grandchildren’s athletic and academic successes.

Josephine maintained her health and interest in activities well into her 90s, including a trip to France and cruises to Spain, Scandinavian countries, Canada, and the Caribbean. She still enjoyed working crossword puzzles and playing bridge and solitaire on the computer until she was 98.  

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Burton M. Lanehart, and her son Raymond Mark (Buddy) Lanehart. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Lanehart Willingham, grandchildren Mark and Leslie Ritter, Will Lanehart and Brittney Lanehart, great grandchildren Christopher Lanehart Ritter, Caroline Kathleen Ritter, and Lincoln Andrew Lanehart, sister Lois Morris and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She has left a huge hole in our hearts.  

Services will be held Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 11 am at Restland Cemetery, Iraan, Texas.