On April 24, 2024, Althea Jo-Ann Buchanan made her final curtain call of her lifetime dance recital, with a perfect curtsy, the stage lights are now dimmed.

Jo-Ann was born in Newark, Ohio to the late Noel Tatman and Annabelle (Bruce) Buchanan.

At an early age, she was introduced to dancing around 1947 at Hempleman Dance Studio by her Aunt Ida Mae Burgy. She was a natural dancer. By the time Jo-Ann was 18 she was a main member of Hempleman Dance Troupes and H & H Take 5 Dance Studios as "JoJo". From there she would branch out with her own ensemble, JoPa's School of Dance.

Jo-Ann went on to travel The United States to teach at national dance conventions. Her main love was Tap Dancing and Jazz.  Some of the locations where she taught were Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Biloxi, Myrtle Beach, among others. She also had satellite dance studios during the day throughout the Ohio Valley. Some of these were located in New Lexington, Heath, Lancaster, Canal Winchester, Lexington, Mansfield, Coshocton, Alexandria, Johnstown, Columbus, Newark, Ohio to name a few.  Jo-Ann brought in international dancing to her students by introducing Hawaiian Lūʻau and Belly Dance along with contemporary tap, jazz and acrobatic classes.

Jo-Ann is survived by her daughters Misty Jo Tull and Shelly Jonda, son Bryan David and Jamie Jacobs, sister Rita Buchanan Sherwood, niece and nephew Tonya  Dunn and John Carr, cousins Bob Sharin and Donna Jean Burgy Adkins, Grandchildren Tosha Jacobs, Caitlyn (Jacobs) Dewitt, Sidney Grosh, Skylar Grosh and 9 great grandchildren. Her older brother Murel E "Ike" Buchanan CPL US Air Force preceded her in death.

Jo-Ann was famously late for everything. People would tell her she would be late for her own funeral. Her response was "I ain't going!" Her recent favorite day of the year is The Utica Ice Cream Festival with the parade going down her front step. She would sit out at the street and just have a ball seeing all the things the parade had to offer. So in that fashion there will be no funeral. She would want everyone to spend time with their loved ones and eat ice cream. We will celebrate Mom at the parade on May 25th with her chair sitting by the road, eating ice cream.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.