Jo Ann Gilbert Marquart

Jo Ann Gilbert Marquart, 70, passed away on Nov. 2, 2024,
in Vernon, Texas.
Funeral services was held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6,
2024, at the Sullivan Funeral Home chapel. Toby Castleberry
o􀵶 ciating. Burial followed at Quanah Memorial Park
Cemetery under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.
Jo Ann was born in Vernon, Texas, on Aug. 28, 1954, to
Robert Lee and Louise Woosley Gilbert. She grew up in
Odell, Texas and attended schools in Odell and Chillicothe,
Texas. She graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1972.
Following graduation, she went to Vernon Regional Junior
College and received her associates degree.
While working full-time and raising her three daughters, she went back to school
and received her bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University. Afterward, she
continued on to the University of Oklahoma where she graduated with a Master of
Social Work in 1996.
Throughout her life, Jo Ann enjoyed working with the public. She started working
at Vernon Regional Junior College. Then she worked at Chillicothe Clinic. Afterwards,
she wanted to pursue her love for writing and began working for Chillicothe Valley
News/Vernon Daily Record. Next, she spent numerous years at Hardeman Grain and
Seed. After she received her master’s, she began to pursue her true passion of working
with youth. She started at North Texas State Hospital in the Adolescent Forensic Unit,
and 􀂿 nished her career where she started, as a counselor for Vernon College.
Jo Ann’s advocacy was to help children and young families. She served on many
boards during her lifetime, including chairperson for the Hardeman County Child
Welfare Board and was a member of the board of trustees for the Helen Farabee
Regional MHMR centers.
Jo Ann also spent her time volunteering for community service. She served on
several boards, including Board of Directors for Chillicothe Hospital Authority; Child
Advocates, Inc.; 4-H leader for 11 years; and Girl Scout leader. She wrote many grants
for the Odell Volunteer Fire Department and Chillicothe Volunteer Fire Department.
She was Volunteer of the Year in 2004 for Chillicothe Volunteer Fire Department. She
was also a past Sunday School teacher for Wilbarger Street Church of Christ.
Jo Ann was a working mom that dedicated her life to her three daughters, Jennifer
Trufan, Cara Lane, and Jacy Nunnery. She loved her family very much, and her goal
was to raise three strong, independent daughters. Her proudest moments were all three
of her daughters receiving an education and watching them raise their families. Jo Ann
had a passion for caring for her yard. She loved decorating for Christmas and seeing
all the community’s children in costumes during Halloween. She loved reading and
spending time with her family and friends. Jo Ann was a generous person as well, and
she was always willing to help someone in need.
Jo Ann is survived by her three daughters, Jennifer Trufan, and husband Joey, of
Chillicothe, Texas; Cara Lane, and husband Brandon, of Wichita Falls, Texas; and
Jacy Nunnery, and husband Barry, of Iowa Park, Texas; as well as their father, Gary
Marquart of Wichita, Kansas. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren and
their spouses: Bethany and Spencer Soto of Wichita Falls; Matthew Trufan of Wichita
Falls; Jacob and Leeann Trufan of Rosenburg; Josh Trufan of Chillicothe; Brooklyn
and Breeli Lane of Wichita Falls; and Caddo and Dally Nunnery of Iowa Park. Jo
Ann also had one great grandchild, Hali Jo Soto of Wichita Falls. Also surviving is
one brother, Billy, and his wife, Cindy, of Denton. She also has several nieces and
nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and cousins as well.
Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents Robert Lee Gilbert and Louise
Woosley Gilbert; her sister, Linda Jean Pilcher; her brother, Charles Allen (Chuck)
Gilbert; and grandson, Jacob Lane, along with both of her paternal and maternal
grandparents and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorials can be made to Vernon College General Scholarship Fund or Chillicothe
Ex-Student Association Scholarship Fund.
Visitation was Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, from 12 p.m., until service began at
Sullivan Funeral Home.