Jo Ann Surber

Jo Ann “Joey” Surber was born on April 20, 1947, to Joe and Thelma Coates in Kingsport, Tennessee. Soon after, her beloved brother Tom Coates was added to the family. Both Jo and Tom spent their childhood together attending school and later graduating from Sullivan High School.

Jo was married to Randy Surber for 35 adventuresome years that included several job relocations. Jo was the perfect partner, as her motto was “where you go, I go”. Randy and Jo have been to most of the National Parks in the Continental US. She loved RV’ing and simply being in nature. She loved taking pictures and viewing wildlife. She also enjoyed the ATV trips to Colorado where she knew no fear on the mile high ledge trails.

She enjoyed the family farm in Avon Park and especially the mini-donkeys that were now her children. She also had a number of Labrador retrievers and loved her black lab Charlie. She also had an amazing green thumb and could grow anything that was legal.

Jo is survived by her husband Randy of Avon Park, Florida and her three children, Tammy Clark of Kingsport, Tennessee, Scott Buckles of Waverly, Tennessee, and Tracy Chandler and husband Brian Chandler of Chilhowie, Virginia. She is survived by eight grandchildren.

She is also survived by her mother Thelma Coates of Kingsport, Tennessee, brother Tom Coates (Kingsport, TN), niece Sarah Haynie and husband Josh of Kingsport and nephew Ben Coates and wife Jamie of Hiltons, Virginia.

She was of the Seventh-Day Adventist faith and loved Jesus.

A memorial will be announced in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be given to the AdventHealth Sebring Foundation in her name.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
111 E. Circle St.
Avon Park, FL  33825
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com