JoAnn (Jody) Farrington Priest

The eternal optimist, mother, grandmother and aunt, JoAnn (Jody) Farrington Priest, died from natural causes on October 15, 2022 in Rosemount, Minnesota. She was born in Nappanee, Indiana on January 20, 1934 to Marie Anna Krauter Farrington Smith and Lloyd Maxwell Farrington. Since both of her parents worked outside of the home, she and her older siblings (Margaret and Will) spent their childhood exploring and playing in the town of Nappanee which included many hours reading at the public library. She excelled in school and played alto saxophone in the band; later she would pick up the baritone saxophone. While in high school, Jody and some of her musician friends played in a jazz band that played for area high school proms in Northern Indiana. A few of the friends also organized a Dixieland band, and they once played in a big talent show held at the Elco Theatre in Elkhart; they won a radio.

In 1952, her lifelong friend, JoAnn Shively (Shive) was dating Mel Shirk who she met while working at a resort on Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana. Shive and Mel introduced Jody to Mel’s cousin Loren (Larry) Priest at the Nappanee High School Band Boosters’ Picnic at Syracuse Lake. For several years their courtship continued through letters and reunions with friends and family at Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana where Larry’s parents had a cottage.

After high school she attended two years of college at Ball State University, paying her own way. But when her funds ran out, she returned to Nappanee and took a job at the SocialSecurity Office. She married Larry on March 31, 1956 in the Nappanee Church of the Brethren. The newly married couple took up residence in Elkhart in an apartment on Vistula Street. Son Mark was born (1957) while they lived on Vistula, and son Thomas was born (1959) after they moved to a house on East Jackson. To be closer to Larry’s work, they moved to South Bend in May of 1961, and daughter Gretchen was born in October of that year.

In the late 1960s, JoAnn returned to college at Indiana University-South Bend and finished her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1971. Although she had secured a position teaching third grade, the unplanned expectation of the arrival of daughter Sarah (1972) interrupted her entrance into the teaching profession. She completed a Master of Science in Elementary Education in 1977 but never secured another position in the public schools. For many years, however, she served as a substitute teacher in the South Bend Schools and she was a regular Sunday school teacher at the First United Methodist Church of Mishawaka.

JoAnn encouraged all of her children to pursue their dreams and to see the world. She always said that it wasn’t as important what grades you received in school as it was what you learned. For Jody, learning was paramount to success in life. She served as a girl scout leader and John Adams High School Band Booster President. She later worked at the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame and at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. She also joined the Michiana Alumni Band playing baritone saxophone. As an eternal optimist, she always seemed to find the good in all people and in all situations. Inheriting a strong work ethic from her mother, she used to say “When you are on vacation, it doesn’t mean you stop working; it simply means you do different kinds of work.” She saw work as an integral part of achieving happiness.

In their later years, Jody and Larry greatly appreciated their time at Evangel Heights Methodist Church in South Bend singing in the choir, and Jody enjoyed leading the handbell choir.

JoAnn is survived by her children: Mark Priest of Orlando, Florida; Thomas Priest (Diana) of Ogden, Utah; Gretchen Priest-May (Tim) of Nashville, Tennessee; and Sarah Priest Lockwood (Travis) of Hastings, Minnesota, and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loren; siblings, Margaret Farrington England Neff and Will Farrington; and her parents, Marie and Lloyd.

Jody’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Evangel Heights United Methodist Church, 114 North Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana. The service will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXg3o9H-OIln548SY4TWLQ . A one-hour visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. A graveside service in Nappanee will follow the Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Bend Symphony or the Potawatomi Zoo, payable to Raymond James, indicating the designated organization on the memo line. Mail to: Raymond James, In Memory of JoAnn Priest, 4215 Edison Lakes Parkway, Ste. 300 Mishawaka, IN 46545. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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