Jo was born in Ogden, Utah on December 21, 1943, daughter of Robert and Isabel Read Taintor. She passed away on May 31, 2014, surrounded by her loved ones. Jo was educated in the Ogden school system, graduating from Ben Lomond High School in 1962, and receiving an Associate Degree from Weber State. Jo married her high school sweetheart, Gary V. Bowden on August 19, 1964, and enjoyed many happy years with him. Even though they later divorced, they remained good friends. Jo and Gary had three children, Greg Bowden (Melanie), Alicia Kirkman (Shane) and Britnee Bowden (Aaron), 4 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jo worked at the officers club at Ogden DDO, then at Weber Office Supply. After raising her children, Jo then went into the banking business and worked for various credit unions and banks, retiring from Zions Bank in January 2012.
Jo married Randy Petersen on February 12, 2011 in Las Vegas. He provided her with immense happiness through love, travel and companionship. Randy showed true devotion and compassion by providing Jo with "tender loving care", never leaving her side during her illness. For this her children are forever grateful!
Jo was one of the most active, vivacious people you would ever want to meet. She was very supportive and involved in all of her children's activities. She played soccer until age 58. In her spare time she participated in many local activities, including: volunteering at Primary Children's Hospital, decorating at the Ogden Festival of Trees (20 years), organizing and donating time to various church callings, and loved being a part of the Utah Gymnastics scoring team. Her Dickens Christmas Village was legendary and she took great pride in every part of it being perfect. She had a tremendous amount of artistic ability and anyone who saw her homes will testify to that. Christmas was a favorite time for her. She, her sisters and her daughters annually made enough hand-made chocolates, gingerbread, and sugar cookies to feed the entire state of Utah.
Her family was everything to her. She continued to be the steady link for everyone up until the time of her death. She was our ROCK. She will be missed by a huge network of family and friends.
Jo was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother-in-law Brian. She is survived by her husband, three children, four grandchildren, a great grandchild, her brother Read Taintor (Merry), her twin sister Diane Elmer (Wendell), sister Barbara Jones (Ray), and sister Louise Taintor-Teeples (Jeff).
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, UT. A visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6-8pm and on Friday from 12:30-1:30pm prior to the services. Online condolences welcomed at www.larkincares.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jo's honor, to Primary Children's Hospital research at www.primarychildrens.thankyou4caring.org
Hi Brittany and Alecia,
I'm so sorry for your loss, and miss you girls. We hope you are doing well. Lake Powell was so much fun! <3
