Lawatta Joan "Jo" (Callahan) Malernee

Lawatta Joan “Jo” Malernee, 87, of Byesville went to Heaven to be with the Lord Thursday (May 24, 2018) at SEORMC.

She was born July 31, 1930 in Senecaville and was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Ruth (Casner) Callahan.

Lawatta “Jo” was a 1948 graduate of Senecaville High School, and a member of Calvary Baptist church where she was also a 50 year member of the Women’s Missionary Group, and also taught Sunday school and Bible school.  She formerly worked at Hamilton Beach and later retired from Rolling Hills School District.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers Bill and Howard Callahan; sister Mary Ellen Pleak; sister-in-law Wanda Callahan; brother-in-law James Pleak.

She is survived by her husband of sixty six years, Donald L. Malernee whom she married December 8, 1951; two sons, William (Theresa) Malernee and Edward (Sue Ann) Malernee both of Byesville; three daughters, Christine Johnson of Cambridge, Cynthia (Tom) Groznik and Carol Snode both of Hampton, VA; nine grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren; one sister, Nancy (Jack) Tipton of Senecaville; one sister-in-law Janice (Callahan) Jackson; eleven grandchildcren, Travis (Somer) Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Willum (Destiny) Malernee, Bitsi (Mickey) Gourley, Brad (Andrea) Groznik, Nathan Malernee, Nick (Laura Abbey) Malernee, Nathasha  (James Schaefer) Snode, Ashley Snode, Bill (Mary) Slaughter, and Megan (Chris) Sheppard; 21 great grandchildren, Harper, Jessica, Leah, Natalie, Connor, Braelyn, Tanner, Taniah, James Jr., Jaylyne, Shantel, Chanel, Denver, Quinton, Brody, Hailden, Colton, Liam, Olivia, Lyndsie and Chaz; several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Byesville where services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday with Pastor Dennis Rost officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorial donation may be made to Guernsey County Cancer Society, 927 Wheeling Ave., Suite 205, Cambridge, Ohio  43725.

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