"There's a dirt floor underneath here

To receive us when changes fail

May this shovel loose your trouble

Let them fall away"

Chris Whitley

On April 18, at 11:52 p.m., Gladys Joann Santana was welcomed home to God. She fought a hard battle with autoimmune disease and pneumonia. She was not alone and spent her last moments with her family. Jo is survived by her sons and their wives: Dustin and Teri, Ian and Erika, and Michael and Mindy. She leaves behind her grandchildren: Shaun, Archer, Storm, and Destiny. She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses: Donna and Tag, Doug and Wendy, and Gene and Shirley; her nieces and nephews: Amy, Josh, Tricia, Lindsey, Sky, Trey, and Alley; and their children: Lola, Remy, Austin, Ember, Aspen, Lydia Grace, and Emma Kate. Jo was born in Houston, Texas, on March 7, 1960, to Betty and Thomas Eugene Wiltrout. She was the youngest of four children.

Jojo, as many knew her, never met a stranger. Her life story resides in all of the loved ones she spent it with—so many disconnected people connected by one bright, shining soul. She was a free spirit who would help any living thing in need; if she could, she would make anyone's pain her own. She was an artist, singer, loving mother, and hard worker. She was a powerful performer and sang live music for years. When she sang, she commanded attention. She loved her cats: Mousey, Walter, Rena, Skukum Jones, Wilby, Pinecone, Squeeker, Yoshi, and Tito. Her cats were like family to her, and a simple picture of one of them could make her smile even in the end. She was a tireless worker and treated her coworkers like family.

She was the office manager at Colonial Hardware in Conroe and truly loved her job. She made many friends and memories during her time there. A special thanks to her boss, MJ, for all he did to support her when she was sick; you have the family's eternal thanks.

The funeral will be held at Klein Funeral & Memorial Park on Friday, April 24, at 2:00 p.m. Even though Jo has moved on, the joy her life brought to those she loved will forever be a comfort to hold on to, an ideal to strive for, and a reminder that when we move on, we still have such a profound effect on the people we love. The world isn't the same without her, but she left a garden that will continue to bloom for her friends and family forever.