LACONIA --- Joni Jo Stover, 84, of the Taylor Community died peacefully surrounded by God’s loving grace on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
Joni was born in Dallas, Texas, December 2, 1936, to the late Virgil and Christine (Bundy) Ballard. Her father operated a family business eventually selling it, moving to Silverton during Joni’s 4th-8th grade school years and finally settling in the Rio Grande Valley in Mission, Texas.
Growing up in Dallas with her sister Betty Lu, Joni always said it was a happy time. Moving from a city to Silverton (pop.1400) she found it more difficult to make friends, but they were still able to have lots of fun riding horses on the ranch, picnicking, swimming in water tanks and visiting with her beloved grandmother and grandfather. Mission was a more welcoming location and Joni thrived with friends and academics. Always a good student, something her parents demanded, she loved English and reading and continued that love throughout her life. She played basketball (she admitted not well), but was very good at tennis. She was socially active with the girls club, parties and dancing with friends. She was very involved in the church following in the footsteps of her mother and father in always practicing Christian values.
Joni attended the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Journalism. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and finished her education in 3 years working through the summers. Although she was engaged to a fellow in college, upon meeting her first husband Sheldon Dow at a party in Mission where he was stationed with the Air Force, she ended the engagement right away. While Sheldon fulfilled his military duties moving around Texas, Joni completed her university work and they married in 1956. “He was a fun and funny man who was always having a good time in whatever he did.” They lived in Oklahoma City until Sheldon finished up with the Air Force and then moved to Laconia where his family, and the family business, was located. He began working for the Dow Fuel Company (established 1878) and eventually took over as president. Joni taught elementary school for a few years. She recalled that those years were “lean ones, eating a lot of hamburger, but such fun ones.” Friends recall getting together for all kinds of parties. With a boat on Winnipesaukee, they spent a lot of time on the water and were overjoyed with the birth of their four children. Joni became a full-time homemaker first living on Gale Ave. and then on Shore Dr. on Lake Winnisquam spending time fishing, boating, waterskiing and playing on the beach. She even became a loon counter for the town and continued her love of these unique birds until the end.
Sheldon developed cancer and passed in 1973 at the age of 40. Joni’s faith and the need to care for the children, kept her going and three years later, she met and married Herbert F. Stover “Smokey” a captain for Eastern Airlines. Smokey’s three children Lori, Rick and Scot visited from Florida often. With his airline privileges, Joni and Smokey were able to travel extensively taking trips themselves and with the children around the U.S. and abroad. Joni had so many fond memories and was proud of the fact that she was able to travel to every state in the nation including Alaska and Hawaii.
She and Smokey spent time in Bermuda at their timeshare and then (after the sale of the Dow Fuel Company) they purchased a condo in Fort Myers, Florida, where they spent many happy months (over 25 years) making friends, relaxing and playing golf. Joni even got a hole-in-one at the Kelly Greens (residence) Golf Course! They purchased a time-share on Sanibel Island where they were able to host family and friends and Joni was able to walk the beaches looking for shells, an activity that her mother also enjoyed. Just like Christine, she created beautifully crafted shell gifts for the many people in her life.
In 1998, she and Smokey sold the Shore Drive property and moved to Grouse Point in Meredith where they frequently entertained, played tennis and golfed, enjoyed bridge, and she was able to continue her lifelong passion of gardening, something many remember her for.
Joni was involved in her faith her whole life attending and volunteering at the Congregational Church of Laconia where she and Sheldon, their children and then Smokey worshipped. She served as a Sunday school teacher, a Deaconess, was on the Social Services Commission, and the Alter Guild.
Although a full-time homemaker through the child-rearing years, Joni volunteered extensively with the Nursery Guild of the Lakes Region General Hospital and the hospital Auxiliary. Later she added to the list the Belknap Cancer Society, the Lakes Winnisquam Association, the PEO, and the Kelly Greens Association (Florida).
During her 40’s, she was able to renew her love of academia and achieved her Masters in English Education at Plymouth State College (now University) going on to teach as an Adjunct Professor of English at Plymouth for four years. As a proud parent, grandparent, graduate and alumni of Plymouth, she contributed heartily to both a scholarship fund and to the creation of the Welcome Center and Ice Arena.
Her final years were spent as a resident of the Taylor Community, moving there with Smokey in 2013. Shortly after their arrival, the 37-year union ended with Smokey’s untimely death. Joni continued her good works, her various activities with friends and traveling as well as participating in the many programs and events offered by the facility. Although her children are no longer in Laconia, Joni immensely enjoyed when they visited along with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She will be remembered fondly by many as a kind and thoughtful, giving and intelligent woman who cared deeply for her family, friends and church community, and will forever be in their hearts.
Joni is survived by a son, John Henry Dow IV of Atlanta, GA; three daughters, Brenda Christine Daniels and her husband Dennis Daniels, of Bristol, NH, Linda Cathleen Dow Hayes and her husband Todd R. Hayes of Webster, NY, and Mary Katherine Dow Studley, and her wife Leigh Studley ,of Burlington, VT; a step-son, Rick Stover of Florida; and a step-daughter, Lori Stover; grandchildren, Lindsey, Brian, Emma, Sarah, Dillon, and Bain Edmondson (son and stepson of Scot Stover) and Studley twins that are on the way; a sister, Betty Lu Shamel, and her husband Charles Shamel of Rockport, TX; two great-grandchildren, Leah and Wesley; and one niece, Mary Alice (Shamel) Hill. In addition to her parents, Joni was predeceased by her first husband, Sheldon W. Dow, her second husband, Herbert F. Stover, and a step-son, Scot Stover.
Calling Hours will be held from 4:00-6:00pm on Monday, May 31, 2021, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am, Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at the Congregational Church of Laconia, United Church of Christ, 69 Pleasant Street, Laconia.
A Graveside Service will follow at Bayside Cemetery, Union Avenue, Laconia.
For those who wish, the family suggests memorial donations in Joni’s name be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; Granite VNA and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246;or Bayside Cemetery Association, PO Box 6232, Laconia, NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.