The Troop Committee has decided to purchase a memorial stone at the Bovay Scout Ranch Plaza in memory of Jo Ann Webber. Contributions are being collected by Tommy Haddox throughout the month of April.

One of the things that will I will always remember about Jo Ann was her smile. Her smiles were real, they were warm, and they were sincere. She always gave one when she saw you approaching, and her eyes made it clear that the smile was real, that she really was glad to see you. And she always had one to give at the end of a hard day, when spirits were low and bodies were tired. Her smile then was warm and understanding, and definitely a blessing. I’ll miss Jo Ann. She was a good person who left us too soon. But I know that our paths will cross again.
Steve Simpson, ASM Troop 483

I have been given the honor of sharing with you some of Jo Ann’s Scouting experiences. These are not just my own memories for I represent the many Scouters who also knew her. To Vincent and her family, our prayers and our thoughts are with you. We are sorry for your loss and share your grief. When we think of Jo Ann, we remember how much she loved Scouting and how important it was to her. She wanted to be involved with Vincent and his Scouting activities. She was a member of the Pack Committee at Pack 435 at Copeland Elementary. Her Cubmaster remembered her as someone who was always willing to step in and help get things done. She served on the Cub Scout Roundtable Staff for the Rising Star District and also on staff of the District Pow Wow, an annual district training event where she helped train new Cub Scout leaders. When Vincent moved on to Boy Scout’s, she moved with him becoming an active member of Troop 483’s Troop Committee. During her time with us she took on many duties including Transportation Coordinator, Advancement and Awards Chairman, and Popcorn Chairman. She continued her Scout training by attending training seminars at Philmont National Training Center in New Mexico and completing the Boy Scout Wood Badge Training Course where she was a member of the Buffalo Patrol. She volunteered to be our first Eagle Scout Coordinator. She helped our Scouts find Service Projects, requested reference letters and assisted in the completion of their Eagle applications. She held this position until she began her battle with her illness and could no longer devote the time to it. We have had eleven Scouts reach the Eagle rank in this past year and she has had a part in all of them. Jo Ann was a pioneer in our Troop. She was one of the first women who began to camp with us on a regular basis. Our Scoutmaster at the time, Larry Hoffman, used to tease her about the "civilizing" impact she had on us and how it had a taming influence on our normally crude outdoor behavior. She was quick to offer a comforting hand as well, like the time she offered a hug and some comforting words to a mom who was leaving her oldest at summer camp for the first time while recalling her own childhood tragedy of losing a brother at camp. There were also some interesting moments, like her first Camporee where she and Rose Henry had some difficulty setting up their rather large tent in the dark. At our next campout, I’m told she had a smaller tent that practically set itself up. She loved camping and being outdoors. She hiked with us, went boating with us and even went rappelling with us. Larry also recalled her first attempt at this and her being so scared her legs were shaking as she went over the edge. But she did it. On our rappelling trip the next year Matt Cline remembered her flipping over upside down a couple of times. We don’t think she meant to do this but just ended up that way. Well, our younger Scouts thought it was pretty cool and wanted to go down with her the rest of the day. Jo Ann had fun with us and always had a smile. I remember our Wood Badge training course we attended with four other Scouters from our Troop. We spent three week-ends with 64 other Scouters in a Troop environment as if we were the Scouts, learning the Patrol Method, playing games, developing life skills, singing songs and having fun. On the last weekend, we were going through some mental game challenges when we were called out by Patrols and given directions to our overnight campsite which we would have to hike to. It began to rain during the afternoon and was very warm and humid. I remember my Patrol being under the pavilion as the Buffalo Patrol headed towards the bridge and out of camp. There was Jo Ann, grinning as usual, like a child on the first day of school. She wasn’t going to let a little rain keep her from having fun! To earn your Wood Badge beads, you must "write your ticket", that is to complete nine items where you have pledged to provide service to others, set and accomplish unit goals and personal growth goals. It was no surprise to anyone that Jo Ann was one of the first in our Troop to complete this. We Scouters are privileged to have been a part of her life and to share these memories and experiences. We come to remember that each of our memories and experiences was a gift from God, given as a blessing as we have walked along our journey of life. To honor her, her Troop and fellow Scouters plan to purchase a memorial brick in the Scout Plaza at the new Bovay Scout Ranch in Navasota, Texas as a constant reminder for all to see of her dedication to Scouting and its ideals. As I close, I want to share with you one of my favorite campfire stories about Lord Baden Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts. Jo Ann heard me tell this at one of our campfires and she told me how much she enjoyed it. BP was the youngest Lieutenant General in the English military at the age of 40 and had been involved in several military campaigns in Africa around the turn of the century. During his career he had written many notes about survival and outdoor skills which became the foundation for what we know today as the Boy Scout Handbook. In addition to training his recruits in these skills, he felt they should possess some moral skills as well. He would tell them stories of the Indians because of their strong values in honor, character and loyalty. He told them the Indians believed that when it got dark that the sun did not go down but rather the earth was covered with a large blanket. The stars at night were holes in the blanket put there by braves who had passed on but who had done good deeds while here on earth. Some stars were larger and brighter than others because some deeds were greater than others. But it did not matter as long as they put their hole in the blanket. Baden Powell said "While it is noble to be good, it is far better to do good" In life, as in Scouting, Jo Ann did her best and was always prepared. She did good and I know she has already put her hole in the blanket.
Todd L. Gaudin Scoutmaster Troop 483 Cypress, Texas