Born May 14 1921. Conshohocken Pa. Parents: Carroll and Frances Meyers Deceased In 1929 the family moved from a German enclave of Philadelphia to the small town of Oxford in rural New Jersey where her father assumed duties of office manager at an iron mine. She attended schools in Conshohocken and Oxford before graduating in 1939 from Hackettstown High Hackettstown N.J. - just over the mountain from Oxford. She went on to receive a B.A. degree from William Paterson University Paterson N.J. in 1943. She taught school for several years in Dover New Jersey and also on the island of Guam in the central Pacific. She worked in several businesses including a stint as the office manager for National Trailer Convoy in Abilene Texas before her retirement at age 65. As World War II came to a close she married Sgt. Arthur Collins December 28 1944 in Winter Park Florida. They had two sons. Richard Christopher was born December 31 1946 in Dover N.J. and Bart Douglas was born January 30 1950 at Mitchell AFB N.Y. During Arthur's military career they lived in many places before retiring in Abilene. Julia Jo was a long time member of The Order of Eastern Star Social Order of Beauceants Retired Military Wives Club Dachshund Club of America Life member at Dallas Fort Worth Dachshund Club Life member and past president of Abilene Kennel Club Charter member and past officer of Taylor-Jones Humane Society; and a supporter of the Abilene Zoological Society and Grace Museum. She had a great love and compassion for animals. As a child she often brought home a hurt or stray one. She learned about dog shows early in life from one of her father's coworkers who showed Dobermans. He took her to her first dog show. As a child she saved her money to take the train into New York City to the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Gardens. She grew up with Terriers and Dobermans. When Arthur and Jo decided to have a dog join their family the pick was a Dachshund its small size and agreeable disposition being very suitable for military life. In 1954 Jo finally started showing dogs herself and by 1959 she had her first champion a smooth haired dachshund. She went on to become a well-known breeder and exhibitor showing dogs under the kennel name of COJA. Over her dog-breeding career she had forty-four champions to her credit. She helped organize the Taylor Jones Humane Society. She campaigned for a new shelter and for better laws for dogs and cats. She even sheltered cats at her home until the city could keep them at the city shelter. Spaying and neutering was her "Cause". She is survived by son Richard and wife Joanne of Dickinson Texas; Colonel Bart and wife Nita Anne of Killeen Texas and her two granddaughters Ashley Elizabeth and Jessica Nicole also of Killeen; niece Connie Samuel Robison and husband Bill of Punta Gorda Florida ; and brother-in-law Stewart and wife Virginia Collins and their children of Hackettstown N.J. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Arthur; her sister Frances Meyers Samuel brother Laurence Von thena Meyers; nephew "Brossy" Sam Samuel and niece Katherine Collins. The body will be cremated. Remains will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. An Eastern Star memorial service will be held at North's Memorial Chapel 242 Orange Street Abilene Texas at 2 PM Friday June 20th. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Taylor Jones Humane Society 3311 N. 1st Street Abilene TX 79603 the Masonic Home and School for Children P.O. Box 15040 Fort Worth TX 76119 or your favorite charity.