Miriam Joan "JoAnn" Motes

JoAnn, a resident of Lighthouse Assisted Living and Memory Care in Ocean Springs, MS passed on to eternal life February 09, 2024 at the age of 85. She lived a wonderful life and should be beautifully honored and remembered. She was loved. She will be missed. 

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents, Archie Prentiss Ishie, Sr. and Helen Marie Thornton Ishie; her husband, Billy Hugh Perry; her siblings, Billie Eugenia Leslie, and Archie Prentiss Ishie, Jr.; and her beloved daughter, Lara Anne Perry Seastone.

She is survived by her brother, Milton Ishie of New Albany, IN; her son, Daryl Perry of Sacramento, CA; her grandchildren, Jade Seastone, Dylan John Seastone, and Nicholas John Seastone of TX; her great grandchildren, Sarah Grace Seastone, Harper Kennedy Brooks, and Forest Reign Santana of TX; her special niece, Michalle Leslie Pierpont of Gautier, MS, and other nieces and nephews. She loved her family, her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. 

JoAnn lived in Pascagoula, MS since early in her marriage to Billy Hugh Perry. She worked as a hairdresser until her retirement. She later moved to Vancleave and built a beautiful home on the lake in Lake o’ Pines. She lived in the home she loved until her move to Ocean Springs, MS. 

As a hairdresser, JoAnn enjoyed fixing hair. Through her dedication to looking her best, she looked many years younger. Age was kind to her. 

JoAnn was very young of mind, heart, body, and spirit. She loved going to the YMCA Yoga class with all her yoga friends. She developed many wonderful friendships she nurtured over the years. She enjoyed their monthly “birthday dinners” and hanging out with them. That group of ladies would always laugh and have such fun. She cherished each one of you. 

Over the years, one of JoAnn’s favorite things to do was to sit on the front or back porch and gently rock in the swing to the rustle of the trees or whispers of the wind, enjoying the outdoors. She enjoyed a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening, as Sandi would run around and play. Sandi, her favorite companion, was her dearest friend of all. Oh, how she loved that little dog. Sandi could do no wrong. 

JoAnn was a Christian. She prayed daily and read her devotional readings. Her faith in Jesus Christ sustained her in times of need. She enjoyed reading, doing cross word puzzles, and staying up to date with current affairs. She loved to talk. She enjoyed traveling and shopping, accumulating quite a collection of hats and shoes. She was always laughing. She watched football, her favorite team, the Saints, her favorite players were, Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara. 

A special thank you to Lighthouse Assisted Living and Memory Care for their kindness, compassion, and care of JoAnn. You helped her settle in and made life so much better and easier for her. Your support and genuine concern are appreciated. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Jackson County Animal Shelter, 4400 Audubon Ln., Gautier, MS 39553 can be made in honor of JoAnn and Sandi Motes. Thank you kindly in advance for any donations made on their behalf.

A visitation will be held from 9:00am to 10:00am with a Memorial service officiated by Deacon Linda Healey at 10:00am on Saturday, February 17, 2024 all at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs, MS.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Miriam “JoAnn” Motes.