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Oct. 14, 1934 – Nov. 28, 2015

A private service for Jo Ann “Charlie” Koonce, 81, who died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, will be scheduled during the holiday season in North Carolina.

Mrs. Koonce was born Oct. 14, 1934, in Blanchard, Okla., the daughter of Roland “Pee Wee” Stacy and Virginia Ruth Stacy of Natchez.

Jo Ann was a 1952 graduate of Natchez High School and a 1956 graduate of Mississippi State University. While at Mississippi State, Jo Ann and Bill were cheerleaders and she was named Miss MSU her senior year. She was always a proud Bulldog and was regularly on campus over the years supporting various university organizations and MSU athletic programs. Jo Ann spent 20 years in the apparel business as a buyer for a variety of fine women’s clothing retailers around the southeast.

After she and Bill were married in 1997, they spent the next several years on their sailboat, “Carried Away,” sailing out of Pensacola, Fla., and spending time in and around the various Caribbean Islands. They retired from sailing in 2002 and moved to be close to family in West Point.

Jo Ann was an avid gardener, spending most days piddling in her yard tending to her flowers, herbs and vegetables. She was an amazing cook and a world class crossword puzzle solver. She always had a word game of some sort going on and also enjoyed playing gin rummy, of which she had a standing game ongoing with each of her children for most of their lives.

Mrs. Koonce was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Billy Lee Koonce; and one daughter, Stacy Daigre Strong.

Survivors include two sons, Darrell Daigre and wife, Lisa, of Raleigh, N.C., and Alan Daigre and wife, Cindy, of Readyville, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Cole Strong and wife, Ashley, Carrie Strong Wellborn and husband, Noah, Claire Daigre Beard and husband, Carson, Taylor Daigre and Parker Daigre; and eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org.)

Online condolences may be sent to smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net.