Hannah Jo Somers

Hannah Jo Somers, 1910-2011, 101 years of age, passed away June 29, 2011 at Memorial Herman Southwest Hospital Hospice in Houston, TX. She was born June 15, 1910. She was the fifth of 14 children, to James and Helena Strang in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband of fifty years, Raymond M. Somers Sr.; baby daughter, Roberta Lynn Somers; and 12 siblings. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Strang Lagaza of Beaumont, son Raymond M. Somers wife Estella of Kingwood, and daughter Dorothy Somers Fontana of Houston. Other survivors are grandchildren Rob M. Somers and wife Barbara; Michael Somers and wife Darlene; Shannon Somers and husband Paul Johnson, Gretchen Brandler and husband Peter; Nicole Fontana and husband Donald Harless; Christian Somers Fontana and wife Darla. She is also survived by 14 great grandchildren and 28 nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Somers attended Arkansas State College and received her teaching certificate in 1930. Soon after she began teaching in a one room school house in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She married in 1935, relocated to Texas and began her family. She worked as a sales clerk at Sears and Roebuck in Beaumont and continued her education enrolling in night school at Lamar University where she earned a BS in Elementary Education in 1961. She resumed her teaching career in the Bridge City, Beech Grove, and Jasper School Districts until her retirement in 1976. During her summers she attended graduate school at Stephen F. Austin State University towards her Masters Degree. Her passion for teaching, love for her students and commitment to education spanned over five decades. After teaching Mrs. Somers began another career, building a farm and ranch from virgin timber land and raising cattle in the Peachtree Community. After the death of her husband in 1985, Mrs. Somers continued to work cattle in herds of over one-hundred until she retired once again at the age of 89. She moved to Houston in 2000 where she spent her remaining years.

She was a life-long Methodist and active member of Roberts Avenue United Methodist in Beaumont, Curtis United Methodist in Jasper, and Saint Lukes United Methodist Church in Houston. She was member of United Methodist Women in all three churches and a proud member of The Pilot Club while in Jasper.

Memorial Services will be held at Curtis United Methodist Church on July 2, 2011 at 2:00 pm, with interment to follow at Hancock Cemetery in the Peachtree Community.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Curtis UMC, c/o Mary Wright, 6640 CR 165, Jasper, TX, 75951. We love you, and will miss you--Mother, Sister, MiMi and Aunt Hannah. You have made an indelible imprint on our lives and you will never leave us.