Obituary for Joetta Landis
Anna "Joetta" (Lyon) Landis
Born February 11, 1933 in Cairnbrook, PA, Joetta was the second child of Dr. and Mrs. Thayer C. Lyon. Dr. Lyon was the town's General Practitioner and Ethel (Kennedy) Lyn emigrated from Northern Ireland and became a nurse in the United States prior to marrying Dr. Lyon. Joetta was named after Dr. Lyon's mother, Joetta.
Along with her three brothers; Thayer, Earl and George, Joetta attended elementary school in Cainbrook. The family moved to Corpus Christi, TX, for a period of one year, where Dr. Lyon went for health reasons, but returned again to open a practice in Cainbrook's neighboring town of Central City. Joetta then attended Shade Twp. High School until her senior year, when the family once again moved, this time to the Pittsburgh area where Dr. Lyon was employed as a civilian doctor with the U.S. Army. During the time at Shade High School, she met and "dated" Jeff Landis of Central City, who in later years became her husband.
After first attending Muskinggum College in Ohio for one year, Joetta then went on to The University of Pittsburgh and received her Degree in Nursing in the five year program. From there she went to work at Western Reserve in Cleveland and then to El Paso, TX, (where Jeff Landis was beginning his professional art career with an advertising agency after his two year tour of duty in the army at Ft. Bliss) and where she worked at Doctor's Hospital.
It was in El Paso on March 23, 1956 that Joetta and Jeff were married. Approximately a year later they moved to Miami, FL. It was during their five years in Miami that their two daughters were born: Heather Ann on Sept. 9, 1957 and Marie Joetta on July 3, 1959. In addition to raising two little girls, Joetta managed to keep her hand in nursing at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Then in 1962 they moved to Kansas where Jeff had taken a position as art director with the advertising agency, B.B. Brewer in Kansas City, Missouri, and where Joetta's aunt Maude and her family lived. In the ensuing years, Jeff and Joetta designed and had built a home that included an area for an apartment for Dr. and Mrs. Lyon, who would retire and move there in 1965.
Meanwhile, Joetta pursued her nursing career by teaching pediatrics at St. Margaret's Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, worked as a school nurse in the County School System, worked as a nurse at Providence Hospital, as well as at the Kansas State Prison in Lansing, Kansas.
In 1978, The Ad Agency (now part of the International Ad Agency, Young & Rubicam) approved a request to transfer Jeff to another of their agencies back in Florida (St. Petersburgh). Joetta's father had passed away in 1973 and Mrs. Lyon joined Jeff and Joetta in the move.
Heather was finishing school at William Jewel College and married Mark Schlessman, and Joetta was in her final year at The University of Kansas. Upon graduation, Joetta joined mom and dad and also moved to St. Petersburgh, where she eventually met and married Christopher Lewis.
Eighteen years later, Joetta and Jeff traveled the state and beyond looking for a place to settle in retirement. They decided on Sun City Center, just across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburgh.
With all the activities available there, Joetta got involved in volunteering at the local hospital, becoming active in the "Weight" Club, the Nurse's Club, and in ballroom dancing. She also became active in her love of music by singing with the "Sweet Adelines" women's a-capella group, and became very involved in playing the digital piano.
A brief stint with "Weight Watchers" taught her the importance of physical exercise and she followed a strict regimen of daily exercise in the community indoor walking pool.
Joetta and Jeff enjoyed several years together in Sun City Center. Evenings were spent on the Lanai visiting with their neighbors, Natalina and John. Nigel, her beloved shih tzu, lying near her feet.
Her life in Florida ended abruptly when Jeff died at home with Joetta holding his hand.
In November 2021, Joetta moved to Connecticut to live near her daughter, Joetta and her children. Joetta had always wished she would have another Lizzie, her childhood family caregiver, in her life. Enter Syndi, her live-in companion who cared for her for the last 2 years of her life. The two of them shared stories and laughs while Joetta enjoyed her 5 o'clock bourbon on the balcony.
The move allowed the family to reconnect. GG, great grandma, always had the cookie jar waiting for the kids. Her grandchildren visited frequently and made wonderful memories. Joetta blossomed surrounded by her family.
Shortly after her daughter Heather came for a visit, Joetta died. Her love and spirit will be deeply missed by all. A family gathering in Central City is planned for the spring. Jeff requested we return to the little bridge that they planned their future to release them home.
Born February 11, 1933 in Cairnbrook, PA, Joetta was the second child of Dr. and Mrs. Thayer C. Lyon. Dr. Lyon was the town's General Practitioner and Ethel (Kennedy) Lyn emigrated from Northern Ireland and became a nurse in the United States prior to marrying Dr. Lyon. Joetta was named after Dr. Lyon's mother, Joetta.
Along with her three brothers; Thayer, Earl and George, Joetta attended elementary school in Cainbrook. The family moved to Corpus Christi, TX, for a period of one year, where Dr. Lyon went for health reasons, but returned again to open a practice in Cainbrook's neighboring town of Central City. Joetta then attended Shade Twp. High School until her senior year, when the family once again moved, this time to the Pittsburgh area where Dr. Lyon was employed as a civilian doctor with the U.S. Army. During the time at Shade High School, she met and "dated" Jeff Landis of Central City, who in later years became her husband.
After first attending Muskinggum College in Ohio for one year, Joetta then went on to The University of Pittsburgh and received her Degree in Nursing in the five year program. From there she went to work at Western Reserve in Cleveland and then to El Paso, TX, (where Jeff Landis was beginning his professional art career with an advertising agency after his two year tour of duty in the army at Ft. Bliss) and where she worked at Doctor's Hospital.
It was in El Paso on March 23, 1956 that Joetta and Jeff were married. Approximately a year later they moved to Miami, FL. It was during their five years in Miami that their two daughters were born: Heather Ann on Sept. 9, 1957 and Marie Joetta on July 3, 1959. In addition to raising two little girls, Joetta managed to keep her hand in nursing at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Then in 1962 they moved to Kansas where Jeff had taken a position as art director with the advertising agency, B.B. Brewer in Kansas City, Missouri, and where Joetta's aunt Maude and her family lived. In the ensuing years, Jeff and Joetta designed and had built a home that included an area for an apartment for Dr. and Mrs. Lyon, who would retire and move there in 1965.
Meanwhile, Joetta pursued her nursing career by teaching pediatrics at St. Margaret's Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, worked as a school nurse in the County School System, worked as a nurse at Providence Hospital, as well as at the Kansas State Prison in Lansing, Kansas.
In 1978, The Ad Agency (now part of the International Ad Agency, Young & Rubicam) approved a request to transfer Jeff to another of their agencies back in Florida (St. Petersburgh). Joetta's father had passed away in 1973 and Mrs. Lyon joined Jeff and Joetta in the move.
Heather was finishing school at William Jewel College and married Mark Schlessman, and Joetta was in her final year at The University of Kansas. Upon graduation, Joetta joined mom and dad and also moved to St. Petersburgh, where she eventually met and married Christopher Lewis.
Eighteen years later, Joetta and Jeff traveled the state and beyond looking for a place to settle in retirement. They decided on Sun City Center, just across Tampa Bay from St. Petersburgh.
With all the activities available there, Joetta got involved in volunteering at the local hospital, becoming active in the "Weight" Club, the Nurse's Club, and in ballroom dancing. She also became active in her love of music by singing with the "Sweet Adelines" women's a-capella group, and became very involved in playing the digital piano.
A brief stint with "Weight Watchers" taught her the importance of physical exercise and she followed a strict regimen of daily exercise in the community indoor walking pool.
Joetta and Jeff enjoyed several years together in Sun City Center. Evenings were spent on the Lanai visiting with their neighbors, Natalina and John. Nigel, her beloved shih tzu, lying near her feet.
Her life in Florida ended abruptly when Jeff died at home with Joetta holding his hand.
In November 2021, Joetta moved to Connecticut to live near her daughter, Joetta and her children. Joetta had always wished she would have another Lizzie, her childhood family caregiver, in her life. Enter Syndi, her live-in companion who cared for her for the last 2 years of her life. The two of them shared stories and laughs while Joetta enjoyed her 5 o'clock bourbon on the balcony.
The move allowed the family to reconnect. GG, great grandma, always had the cookie jar waiting for the kids. Her grandchildren visited frequently and made wonderful memories. Joetta blossomed surrounded by her family.
Shortly after her daughter Heather came for a visit, Joetta died. Her love and spirit will be deeply missed by all. A family gathering in Central City is planned for the spring. Jeff requested we return to the little bridge that they planned their future to release them home.