Jo Helen (White) Cabbell

Jo Helen (White) Cabbell of Amarillo, Texas passed from this life onto her eternal home on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.  Jo Helen fought a valiant and God given graceful battle with Alzheimers since being diagnosed in late 2004.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 20, 2021 at Southwest Church of Christ, 4515 Cornell St. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

Jo Helen was born on November 16, 1934 to Obie and Lydia White in Quail, Texas.  She was raised in Quail and graduated from Quail High School in 1953 as salutatorian of her class.  Jo Helen attended West Texas State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.

She had a strong body and was very athletic.  She was the first person in Quail school history to play varsity basketball as an 8th grader.  While at West Texas State, she played AAU ball for the Dowell’s Dolls traveling throughout the nation.  In 1953, she was named an “all American” and played on the United States All American Women’s Basketball Team in the 1955 Pan American Games in Mexico City.  The team earned a gold medal.

While at West Texas State College, Jo Helen met the love of her life and life long partner, James (Jim) W. Cabbell, Sr.  They were married on November 22, 1955 on campus at the Joseph A. Hill Memorial Chapel.  This past November marked 66 years of marriage.  Jim faithfully cared for Jo Helen in their home with the help of precious caregivers until her passing.

Jo Helen worked as a home service advisor with Southwestern Public Service Company in Amarillo for several years until moving with her family to Monahans, TX,  and then Kermit, Texas.  In 1964, Jim and Jo Helen moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where they lived for 40 years.  Jim and Jo Helen owned businesses related to the real estate industry and worked alongside each other every day until their retirement.

Jo Helen continued her love of sports while living in Los Alamos.  She enjoyed playing on the same slow pitch softball city league and tournament team with her daughter, Jobie.  Jo Helen was named the Outstanding Class “B” Slow Pitch Pitcher for the State of New Mexico in 1987.  Jo Helen also coached the Los Alamos High School JV Girls Basketball for seven years.  She was recognized “worthy” by the men coaches the morning after she earned her first technical foul in a game as a coach!  She played on a Senior Olympic basketball team competing at the state and national level.  After moving back to Amarillo in 2003, Jo Helen was honored once more for her basketball skills.  She was named to the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame as its 140th inductee.

Jo Helen coached Lassie League softball, was a cub scout den mother, stayed active in the local realtors board, taught one year of home economics in Monahans, Texas, and answered “yes” to most any request asked of her.

She was an active and life long member of the Church of Christ where she taught classes for small children, high school girls, women’s classes or spoke at events.  Using her home economics background, she was a hospitality queen opening her home for parties, team dinners, fellowship meals, and also took many a meal to a family in need.

Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.  Jo Helen welcomed time to keep them for an hour or a week at a time.  Always welcoming, always an adventure, always joyous. Always looking to make life easier for others.

Jo Helen is preceded in death by her parents Obie and Lydia White, four brothers Welman, Elvis, PJ and Harold White and one sister, Marie White Farris.

Jo Helen is survived by her husband Jim; and children, son James W. Cabbell, Jr. and wife Patty of Claude, Texas, daughter Jobie Cabbell Ogburn and husband Gregory of Amarillo; five married grandchildren, Courtney Cabbell Parrish and husband Dave of San Francisco, CA, Logan Cabbell and wife Kacy of Wellington, TX, Haley Ogburn Benner and husband Evan of Amarillo, Preston Ogburn and wife Carli of Canyon and Parker Ogburn and wife Brooklyn of Hurst, TX, 4 great grandchildren, Kodi Jo Cabbell, Taylee Rae Cabbell, Tinlee Kay Cabbell and Eleigh Grace Ogburn, 2 great grandchildren expected early 2022, Baby J and Elsie Joy Ogburn; one sister Geneva White Thomas as well as several brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to High Plains Children’s Home, Amarillo, TX.