Online Memorial Tribute

Josephine Estelle Knicely, 88, of Ojai, passed away Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at Community Memorial Hospital.

Jo was born on June 6, 1919. One of six children, she was born on the Lann family farm in a Swedish settlement near Axtell, Kan.

She graduated from Kansas State University in 1941. After one year of teaching in Wathena, Kan., she decided to join the war effort and moved to Los Angeles. There she was hired, trained and worked the rest of the war as an airway traffic controller. While working at the OaklandAirport, she was introduced to the handsome commander of LST625, named Clarke A. Knicely.

The attraction was mutual and they were married on April 28, 1946, in Los Angeles. Clarke became an attorney after graduating from Loyola Marymount Law School. They lived in Los Angeles for several years before settling in Ojai in 1960 with their children, Carol, Allen and Mary.

Jo enjoyed a long teaching career as a junior high school home economics teacher, a preschool teacher and director, a second-grade teacher and finally retired a Miller Unrue Special reading teacher in 1979. During this time she attained her master's degree in education from the University of Southern California in 1975. After retirement she focused on her love of traveling, cooking, reading and political debate.

Jo will be remembered by those who knew her for her enthusiastic love for life, for her many interests — intellectual, artistic, political — and especially for her interest and support of all whom she loved both near and far.

She is survived by her children, Carol Knicely Guilbaut, Allen Knicely, and Mary Rausch; grandchildren, Jeremy and Flora Guilbaut, Gillian Knicely, Alexis, Hayden, Austin and Shea Rausch; sister, Marie Hodgkinson; brother, George Lann; and many beloved extended family members.

A memorial service and reception will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the OjaiPresbyterian Church, 304 Foothill Road, Ojai.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to the Ojai Valley Library, 121 E.Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023, the Ojai Music Festival, P.O. Box 1212,Ojai, CA 93023, or The Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 Foothill Rd., Ojai, CA 93023

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home & Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Road., Ventura.

Cards and flowers can be sent to Mom's address at the Gables: 701 No. Montgomery St. #7, Ojai, CA 94061 c/o The Knicely Family through March