Jo Horton

Jo Ann Horton, 74, of Kerrville, Texas passed away on February 8, 2016. She was born in Greenville, Texas to John and Syble Murphy on June 26, 1941. She married Troy Richard Horton on August 24, 1968 in Houston. \r\n \r\nMrs. Horton graduated from A&I College [now Texas A & M] in Kingsville, Texas with a degree in Art Education and a minor in English. She was named Miss A&I College for 1960. Mrs. Horton had a long, successful career in writing and editing. She moved among the stars…actors, singers and even astronauts, in her capacity as Editor of Houston Monthly Magazine, and owner and editor of The Goat Gap Gazette. \r\n \r\nShe was Queen of the Chili World, where she was judge and jury over many pots of chili over the years and always looked forward to attending the annual Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff.\r\n \r\nAfter "retirement" she and husband, Richard, moved from Houston to Kerrville. They bought an RV and, with 4 kitties in tow, set out to visit all 50 States. \r\n \r\nMrs. Horton was active in the Kerrville community, serving meals to shut-ins and enjoying her friends at the Dietert Center. To her card playing friends, she was the final word on the rules, sometimes referred to as "Jo Ann's Rule". She loved dressing up and always had the perfect hat to match her outfit.\r\nWriting and collecting friends were her talents. From her chili friends to her card-playing friends to celebrities, including Willie Nelson, and many more, Mrs. Horton was greatly loved and will be deeply missed. \r\n \r\nMrs. Horton enjoyed a colorful, free-spirited life that most people only dream of. She told friends recently that she had lived a very fulfilling life and had "pretty much accomplished everything" she had wanted to do.\r\n \r\nShe was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Richard. \r\n \r\nA memorial service will be held at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville, Texas on February 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM.\r\n \r\nMemorials may be given to the Dietert Center in Kerrville and to the Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert - Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cookoff, a 501(C)3 organization that raises money for charity. \r\n \r\nMrs. Horton has a memorial website at http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/joannhorton. You are invited to visit, view photographs from Jo Ann's life, and to leave a message or share a memory on the website.