Jo Deen Howe, long time resident of Reno, departed this life on December 26, 2020 following a long battle with Lymphoma at her home in Reno while under Hospice care.

Jo Deen was the daughter of the late Jay and Phyllis (Howe) Cole, born in Anthony, Kansas on May 4, 1931.   Jo Deen's lifelong desire was to be a nurse educator specializing in pediatrics.  Jo Deen received her degree in 1952 as a Registered Nurse from St Francis School in Wichita, KS, her Bachelors in Nursing from St Louis University in 1955, and her Masters from University of California San Francisco in 1961.  She then worked as an instructor at Foothill College, in Los Altos, CA from 1961 to 1966.  She then moved to Reno and took a position as an Instructor in Nursing at the Orvis School of Nursing, UNR working there from 1966 to 1978.  She worked as a Visiting Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle during the summer of 1967.

While at UNR she focused on teaching pediatric courses and developing the associated curriculum. She worked with students to implement health programs at Catholic schools in Carson City and Reno, as well as working with the Washoe County Nurses and Health Dept, a few casinos, the Indian Colony, and nearby brothels.  Jo Deen received a promotion to an Assistant Professorship as well as numerous meritorious service awards.   She felt strongly that a person needs to control their own destiny, and to do so you had to be actively in control.  Accordingly, she served on multiple policy making committees, both as a member as well as a chairperson, Jo Deen was the first woman to Chair the Faculty Senate of UNR in 1973/1974, attending Regent's Meetings and Legislative Meetings in Carson City, as well as serving on the Chancellor's Advisory Cabinet.

It was at this time that the Reno area started its present growth.  Jo Deen saw opportunity in this so got her Real Estate license.  She started her Real Estate career working for Zmak and Realty on Ryland St., later moving to Tara Realty, followed by Realty Executives where she was a Broker.  During this time, she phased out of UNR, but still worked as a Registered Nurse, specializing in pediatric care, on a Per Diem basis when real estate was slow.   A primary focus was in providing pediatric oncology patients and their families, home based care.  Even then, Jo Deen was always active in community affairs having run for a position on the Reno City Council at one time.

Jo Deen was predeceased by her daughter, Laurie Jo, born on August 30, 1960 who only lived 12 days after being born due to being a "blue baby", as well as her only sibling, a sister, Melba Jean Bevington.

Jo Deen leaves a niece Lisa Jo (Bevington) Skillet, her son Jacob, and a nephew Mark Bevington, and wife Valerie, their children & grandchildren to mourn her passing.

Per Jo Deen's request, there are no plans for a funeral. Cremation has taken place.  Jo Deen's remains will be interred with that of her infant daughter in Anthony, KS.

Memorials in memory of Jo Deen may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, 1575 DeLucchi Ln, Ste. 214, Reno, NV 89502 or to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, 550 Italy Dr, Sparks, NV  89437.

Walton's Funeral Home of Reno, NV is in charge of cremation in conjunction with Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony, KS.