Jennye Jo (Barton) Blau passed away in Lubbock, Texas on February 16, 2025, at 90 years old. The viewing will be from 9a.m. till 9p.m. Thursday, February 20, 2025, 9a.m. till 9p.m. Friday, February 21,2025, and 9a.m till 1p.m. Saturday February 22, 2025 at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Booker, Texas. A graveside service will be held at 2p.m. Saturday February 22,2025, at Heart Cemetery in Booker, Texas.

Jo was born to Alex and Ludean Barton on August 24, 1934, in Shattuck, Oklahoma. She was raised on the family ranch on Wolf Creek, along with her younger brother Mex. She attended the Valley Park School (a one room schoolhouse) until the 8th grade. The family then moved to Booker so that Jo could attend high school. In high school Jo met her future husband, Lewis Blau, and they were wed on her 18th birthday, August 24, 1952. Jo was also the valedictorian of her high school class as well as the drum majorette because she could fit the uniform. She attended one semester at Texas Tech while Lewis was a Senior.

After Lewis graduated, they made their home initially in Spearman, and then their permanent home south of Booker where she lived until Lewis's death in 2007. Jo was always busy cooking, cleaning, chasing two kids, feeding the harvest hands, or the branding crew. Jo worked alongside Lewis at the Booker Locker Plant wrapping meat, tending the lockers, answering phones, and keeping the books. Later during retirement (ha-ha) she worked at the Wellington Livestock on Thursday sale day posting sales and paying commissions. She also helped Anita Miller "manually" post invoices, cash payments, and send statements for Miller Supply Co.

She was also busy with her parents and her in-laws. She hosted many family gatherings for the holidays. She attended basketball games, recitals, band performances, spelling contests, and ballet performances. Anything that her children and later, her grandchildren were a part of… she was there. During the summer months the grandchildren would arrive for a few weeks of fun on the ranch. Always telling them to be "careful out there".

On Saturday night you could find Jo and Lewis on the Naturally Yours Dance Platform in Lipscomb or any other towns where there was an opportunity to dance.

Jo was always an excellent bridge player from early on, and after moving to Lubbock she continued to play, sometimes as much as 3 times a week. She was also a fan of the Lady Raiders basketball and usually always made the home games until the steps became too much, but she continued to watch and cheer them on no matter what.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lewis Blau, parents Alex and Ludean Barton, and daughter Phyllis Fortenberry. Jo is survived by her son Barton and wife Donna of Scottsdale, AZ. Son-in- law Don Fortenberry, of Hideaway, TX, and grandchildren Ryan, Kara, Alex, and Kady. Additionally great grandchildren Mark, Ryder, Kaselyn, Kinsey, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Jack, and Joey.