Joann Ozment

It is with heavy hearts that the Ozment and Petersen families share the passing of JoAnn Hankins Ozment, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and the life of the party to all she met. JoAnn, who delighted in her independence, passed away at her Hillsboro home on August 6th, just shy of her 85th birthday, which she celebrated with family earlier in the month. We miss her terribly, but we know she is with the love of her life, Dale, whom she married August 3, 1958. May they both rest in heavenly, eternal peace. Due to health considerations amid the current coronavirus pandemic, a memorial service to celebrate the life of JoAnn will be held later.

JoAnn never met a stranger, and she was blessed with the gift of spreading beauty and joy to all. She deeply loved her many friends and truly delighted in making them happy. Some of her favorite memories were of traveling with her friends for birthday trips, American Idol trips, and sorority, high school, and college reunions. She cherished her twin grandsons, Dillon and Ross, and showered them with her attention and love.

JoAnn will be forever remembered for her unique creativity and artistic ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. She was a teacher, a business owner and was dedicated to her family, community, and church. With her one-of-a-kind ideas and a knack for decorating, she brought life to every party; be it a classroom, a birthday, a wedding, a church luncheon, a Christmas party, or a special celebration for a friend’s child.

JoAnn’s creative imagination led to the opening of The Village, a one-of-a-kind gift store in downtown Hillsboro. She adored her co-workers and helpers, and she inspired them with confidence in their own talents. Later, JoAnn ran a Paper Factory shop, where she transformed tissue paper and gift wrap into art forms. Her final business story began with her passion for making chocolate creations at Hillsboro’s Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and eventually opening her own Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store in downtown Fort Worth. In retirement she continued to make chocolate covered strawberries and other goodies for community events.

JoAnn’s love for her community extended to volunteerism. She loved her church family and organized meals for member families and annual church luncheons. As a Park Board Member, she helped envision, plan and secure funding for Hillsboro’s Wallace Park, home to baseball diamonds, basketball and volleyball courts and a children’s playground. During the construction of the park she could be found covered in dirt and feeding construction crews.

JoAnn was born in Hobbs New Mexico on August 15th, 1935. She is preceded in death by her husband Dale Melcher Ozment, her parents Iola and Willard Hankins, her sister Nancy Hankins Patterson, and her brother-in-law Dr. Don Patterson. She is survived by daughter D’Ann Petersen (Tim), son Cord Ozment (Alison), beloved twin grandsons Dillon Petersen and Ross Petersen, and nephews Dr. Russell Patterson (Susie) and Wade Patterson (Karen). JoAnn grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. At OSU she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

For donations or gifts in remembrance of JoAnn, please consider the First United Methodist Church of Hillsboro https://www.hillsborofumc.com/, the Hillsboro City Library https://www.hillsborotx.org/departments/Library, and Interfaith Ministries of Hillsboro, 214 E Elm St, Hillsboro, TX 76645.