08/20/2026
JoAnn (Breckon) Anderson, 91, peacefully returned to her Heavenly Father on August 17, 2026. She was born during the Great Depression on April 27,1935 in Weiser, Idaho, the second child and second daughter of five children born to John O. and Ednah L. (Durbin) Breckon. She spent the next six years enjoying country life. A brother, Gary, was born in 1940. America entered World War II in 1941 which brought changes to this growing family. John was to be trained as a radio/radar mechanic in Salem, Oregon. For the next three years there were many moves, many uncertainties, and many new schools. Jo relied heavily on her older sister, Jean Ellen, at this time. Jean always comforted JoAnn by telling her made-up stories each night before falling asleep. The family finally landed in San Francisco, California with her father working at the San Francisco Naval Shipyards. Another brother, Garth, was born in 1944. Two months later, John and Ednah purchased a new home just outside of San Francisco in San Mateo County in an area called Bayshore. Life was going to be permanent and stable again.
JoAnn enjoyed her years growing up in Bayshore, excelling in school, and was very active in church activities. She was a huge help to her mom because another baby was born in the family. Every day after school Jo would take care of her new baby sister, Kathy.
During this time there was a group of Air Force guys attending church who took an interest in Jean and JoAnn. After graduating from Jefferson High School in Daly City, California, JoAnn married her Air Force guy, Terrance Verdeen Anderson. John had been called as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints in October 1952 which gave him the authority to marry JoAnn and Terry on February 23, 1953. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple in August 1953. Their 73 years of marriage grew into a loving, adoring, beautiful relationship.
JoAnn and Terry lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho for several years. Then, in 1966, a change in jobs brought them to Corvallis, Oregon where they have thrived for over 60 years.
Family was important to JoAnn. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
JoAnn loved to learn and had many interests. She was an avid reader, bringing half a dozen books home from the library and reading all of them before they were due back. Gardening was therapeutic to her. She would rise early in the morning and work a couple of hours before eating breakfast and before the heat came. Every spring she looked forward to going to the nursery for flowers and plants to fill the yard with color and interest. She knew the names of all the flowers and plants. She loved color. She would say she never met a color she didn’t like. Interior decorating was intriguing to her. She would study magazines and books and was not afraid to apply what she learned in her home. In her later years she would work on a crossword puzzle every morning. It was very rare not to have a jigsaw puzzle set up on the table, too. Anyone that came to visit had to find at least one piece before leaving, to help complete the puzzle. JoAnn took up piano lessons again. She loved playing on her baby grand piano. She was an adventurous cook and could whip up a dish by using the leftovers in the refrigerator. You never got the same dish twice. She loved art and dabbled in painting. Her home was filled with artwork. Jo Ann was allergic to cats but that never stopped her from having cats all her adult life. She loved driving to the coast and stopping at Mo’s for a bowl of clam chowder.
JoAnn was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, serving in many ward and stake callings. But her favorite calling was that of a temple ordinance worker serving in the Portland Oregon Temple. She especially loved assisting the brides on their most special day. Jo Ann loved her Savior, Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. She loved attending the temple and doing the sacred work for her ancestors.
JoAnn is survived by her beloved husband Terry, children Geneva (aka: Jeanne), Ted, Eric (Dolores, aka: Dee), brothers Gary (Mary) Breckon, Garth Breckon, sister Kathy (Glen) Hartle, six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, infant son Dirk Anderson, sister Jean Ellen (Breckon) Gordon and her husband James Douglas Gordon Jr., and daughter-in-law Janice (Nash) Anderson.
Viewing will be held at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm on Monday, August 24th. Funeral services will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 4141 Harrison Boulevard, at 2:00pm on Tuesday, August 25th. Interment and dedication of her grave will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, at 2245 Whiteside Drive in Corvallis, at 2:00pm on Wednesday, August 26th.
The service will be live streamed and can be viewed here:
https://zoom.us/j/97109979963
You are invited to a Zoom webinar!
When: Aug 25, 2026 01:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Sister Jo Anderson Memorial Services
https://www.mchenryfuneralhome.com/obituaries/joann-anderson-12/ #!/Obituary
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