Born Feb. 12, 1908 at Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, Jo was the second of five children born to parents Thomas C. and Anna Scharlock Clark. She died at the age of 102, with family at her side on Feb. 26, 2010.

In 1922, at the age of 14, Jo met a young man at the Coupeville dock that was later to become her beloved husband. Ten years later, Jo married Francis (Fruzer) DeVries at the City Hall in San Francisco, which began their wonderful 67 years together. In 1938 they were blessed with the birth of their only child Dellann. In 1948 they leased and later purchased a fruit stand, farmland, and a beautiful home on Main Street in Milpitas, Calif., which at the time was the main thoroughfare between the Port of Oakland and the rural farming areas to the south. Jo balanced being a mom while managing the busy fruit stand and orchards and Fruzer worked with the California Highway Patrol, enabling them a nice life for themselves and daughter Dellann.

After Dellann’s marriage in 1960 Jo was again blessed, this time with 3 grandchildren. Jo was a big part of the grandchildren’s lives, teaching them many of life’s most important lessons at her kitchen table.

When Fruzer retired in 1964, he and Jo enjoyed traveling, crossing the United States 8 times, cruising Greece and Italy, and frequent get-a-ways to Reno where they enjoyed camping in their trailer and testing their luck on the slot machines. In 1995 at the ages of 88 and 89, Jo and Fruzer began construction on their new Whidbey home.

Fruzer passed away in 2000, but Jo’s spirit carried her on for another 10 years with the help of her daughter who moved to Whidbey to be near her. She endeared herself to all who met her. Family and good friends were very important to Jo. Whether she was hosting the bridge and poker party or family just traveling through, Jo was the consummate entertainer. Jo was also a dedicated community leader who volunteered her time and energy to many organizations including the Santa Clara County Salvation Army, the annual Toys-for-Tots toy drive, and the San Jose Women’s Auxiliary Club.

She is survived by her daughter Dellann Blackstock, along with grandson Chris, granddaughters Corinn and Dana and great-grandchildren Rachel, Logan, Hannah, Ben and Christopher. Our Jo-Jo will be deeply missed!

A Celebration of Life was held March 4 at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club where her stories were told and songs were sung in her honor. The family suggests donations be made to the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, 101 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239 or Boys and Girls Club of Oak Harbor, 98 NE Barron Dr., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.