Jo Ellen Waddell, age 87, of Bridge City, Texas, passed away, surrounded by her loved ones, in Orange, Texas, on Monday, April 14, 2025. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Memory Gardens Cemetery of Jefferson County in Nederland, Texas. Bro. Mike Sullivan, Officiating.
On Sunday, January 9, 1938, Jo Ellen was born to proud parents Henry and Florence Sessions in Port Arthur, Texas. She was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ and a long time member of First Christian Church, Orangefield, Texas. Jo Ellen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother; who was an accomplished cook, excelled at and received trophies for competitive bowling and loved watching all sports on television.
Jo Ellen is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Harry Waddell; parents, Henry and Florence; three brothers and two sisters.
Those left to cherish Jo Ellen’s memory are her sons; David Soileau and Ken Soileau; daughters, Susan Hoffpauir and husband, Scott, Debbie Sonnier and husband, Randy, and Tammie Willey and husband, Luther; grandchildren, Brandon Soileau, Lori Gentzler, Chad Hoffpauir, Harry Chesser, Christopher Sonnier, Ty Sonnier, Lori White, Leslie Sonnier, Joseph Willey, Daniel Willey, Lindsay Edwards, Kimberly Gibbs, Kristal Bryant and Katie Soileau; twenty six great-grandchildren; one great great-grandchild and her brother Jerry Sessions.
Pallbearers honoring JoEllen are Joseph Willey, Daniel Willey, Harry Chesser, Christopher Sonnier, Ty Sonnier, Chad Hoffpauir and Brandon Soileau.
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