Alice Jo Anne Lance, 93, Ulysses, passed away May 9.
She was born April 27, 1933, in Garden City, Kan., to Walter and Alene Yohn.
Jo Anne attended Ulysses Schools and graduated Ulysses High School in 1950.
She married Harold Lance January 26, 1951, at the United Methodist Church in Ulysses. In January of 2026, they celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary.
Jo Anne worked for Duckwall’s early on, and then worked for Long Bell Lumberyard as their bookkeeper. Later she went to work for Grant County Extension Office and worked there for more than 30 years. She took great pride in her work running Grant County Fair and Grant County Spring Fling.
She also worked faithfully bringing meals to the field to feed Harold and his crew during wheat harvest. Everyone loved seeing her come with cold rags, iced tea and occasionally a milkshake in the afternoon.
Jo Anne also loved to play bridge, square dance and collect depression glass and coins. She had some displayed in surrounding Museums and Grant County Fair.
She was very active in United Methodist Church in Ulysses, teaching Sunday School, helping with communion and after school programs for children.
She loved a good book, traveling, and working puzzles. We always had a new puzzle to work for Christmas.
Her greatest happiness came from having each grandchild come spend a week or two with her in the summer. She enjoyed planning special things to do with each one individually and taught them all to drive when they got old enough. She took great care to attend all of their school activities, graduations and weddings.
She is survived by her loving husband, Harold Lance, Ulysses; son, Doug (Cindy), Tulsa, Okla.; daughter, Denise (Bill) Wendler, Spring, Texas; son, Mark (Laurie), Memphis, Texas; brother, David (Pat) Yohn, Ulysses; grandchildren: Bryce (Rosa) Baker, Houston, Texas; Micaela (Josh) Fenwick, St. Louis, Mo.; Anthony (Joyce) Lance, Bangkok, Thailand; Joanna Brown, McAlester, Okla.; Joshua (Taylor) Lance, Midwest City, Okla.; Caleb Lance, Oklahoma City, Okla.; seven great-grandchildren: Luke Fenwick, Eva Fenwick, Corinne Fenwick, Abby Baker, Lily Baker, Alina Lance, James Lance; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m., May 30, at United Methodist Church, Ulysses, with Mark Lance and Doug Lance presiding. The service will be live streamed on the Ulysses First United Methodist Church Facebook page.
Honoring the legacy of Jo Anne by blessing her son, Mark Lance, during his battle against cancer contributions may be given to Mark Lance Cancer Fund by scanning this QR code.
Arrangements are in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880.
Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
