Joni Lynn May Jacoby

Joni Lynn May Jacoby, 53, of Friendswood, TX passed away peacefully in her home of many years in Friendswood, TX on Friday, October 9, 2015. She was born July 11, 1962 to Jon May and Betty Reynolds May in Marianna, FL.

Her brother, Hugh May, preceded her in death in 2003.

She is survived by both of her parents Jon and Betty, her step­-father A.J. Pulver, her step-­mother Anne May, her brother Martin May, her husband Casey Jacoby, her son’s father Pete Stephens, her son Michael Stephens, her daughter-­in-­law Shelby Stephens, her two step­-sons Dan Hamilton and Steve Jacoby, her two grandchildren Victoria and Cole, and many more family and friends than can be mentioned here.

She worked very hard throughout her life to provide for her family, putting her first husband Pete through Chiropractic school and later putting her son Michael through an engineering degree at Texas A&M. Her early career began as a bank teller and she quickly rose through the ranks to become the branch manager. Later in life, after leaving the bank, she started her own book business with her husband Casey where she made lifelong connections and brought joy to many people every week.

She never met a stranger. She was a beautiful woman with amazing personality and infectious laugh that would fill a room and instantly turn heads. She made lifelong friends with just one meeting. She was an amazing mother, wife, friend, mentor, and daughter.

Joni was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in September of 2013. She fought every single day for two years and was strong enough to see her son married, move into his own family house, and meet her amazing grandchildren.

Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. Her soul will live on forever in the people she touched. We are all better for knowing her.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 16, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at the Jeter Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546 (281) 992-­7200 with Rev. Jerry Stark officiating.

Condolences may be sent to the Jacoby family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.

"On September 8, 2013, Joni went to the emergency room with some severe stomach pains. She expected the news to be some sort of stomach virus or food poisoning but the findings were much worse. She was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer* which had spread into her liver.

With no family history of cancer and otherwise being a very healthy person, this came as a complete shock to her as well as the entire family. Luckily she has been referred to a great group of doctors and nurses and has already begun chemotherapy treatments and other treatments for the sickness and pain in her abdomen.

She is a loving mother, a devoted wife, and an amazing friend to countless people. Given her outgoing personality and extremely compassionate nature, she has never met a stranger. With the loving support of her entire family and friends behind her we know she will overcome this just as she has any other obstacle in her lifetime."

*later determined to be breast cancer