Joanne Pankey Cusack

Funeral services for Mrs. Joanne Pankey Cusack will be held Thursday, January 10th. at 6 PM with the Rev. Bruce Hay officiating at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Mrs. Cusack passed away Saturday, January 5th. at the Conroe Regional Hospital. Mrs. Cusack will lie in state from noon until 4 PM Thursday with the family receiving friends from 5 to 6 PM. A reception will be held at the funeral home at the conclusion of the service. Joanne was born in Tupelo, Mississippi to Minnie Lee and John Garrett Pankey. Her twin sister at birth did not survive infancy. The family left Tupelo and moved to Chicago where she met and married William J. Cusack. They had three children and shared three step-children who grew up sharing the love for family. Mrs. Cusack’s early career was as a fashion model for Chicago-area retail catalogs. She was a nationally known radio and TV personality over thirty years for her research and contributions in Kirlian photography. She enjoyed travel. As a breast cancer survivor, she often offered encouragement and support to others going through similar times. Simple beauty, such as exquisite flowers and gardens, gave her joy. Her strong Christian upbringing and faith led her to become an ordained minister in Texas. Mrs. Cusack was a great source of strength and inspiration to others. Mrs. Cusack retired to the community of Huntsville in 1992 to be together with family and she became a devoted volunteer. She served as past President of the Huntsville Kiwanis, and was appointed to serve on the board of the Huntsville Historical Commission, where she focused on historical preservation . She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Her survivors, who give thanks for her life, include her daughter Barbara, and husband Charles Squires, of Huntsville; son Bil Cusack, and wife Rita , of NW Houston; daughter Kimberlie, and husband Bill Hecke, of Huntsville; and Candace and husband Ferrell Petty, of Katy . Grandchildren include Tara Grisham, and husband Kelton of Huntsville; Martin C. Rieger, Jr. and wife Kelli of Millington, Tennessee; Sherry Squires Wik, of Katy; Tiffany Rosa of Lufkin; Ashley Cleveland of Huntsville; Jennifer Cleveland of Houston; Christopher Cusack, of Austin; Meagan Cusack of New Zealand; Natalie Williams of Katy; Jonathan Daniels, and wife Laura of Katy; Laura Hovey and husband John of Austin; and Billy Ray Synder of Austin. Great-grandchildren include Brandon and Jacob von Holton of Huntsville, Martin Charles Rieger, III, of the Woodlands; Madison and Sophie Rene Rieger, of Millington, Tennessee; Liberty Marcruz Nunez of Lufkin; Zach and Kylie Williams of Katy; Ian and Lauren Hovey of Austin; and Johan, Juliana, and Regina Wik of Katy. She was preceded in death by her parents and two stepchildren. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Joanne Pankey Cusack

January 10, 2008