Joraine Killian

After a long and fulfilling life, Joraine Killian, who was born on March 15, 1933, passed away peacefully at home on November 30, 2024, in the presence of family members.

Joraine, who was known as Jo to her friends and JoJo to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, was born in the small Texas panhandle town of Perico. She was the youngest of two daughters born to Raines and Althea Fox.

The family eventually moved to Amarillo, where Jo graduated from St Mary’s Academy High School. She would study at Amarillo College and Texas Tech before returning to Amarillo to begin working.

It was in Amarillo where she met Thomas (Tom) Killian on a blind date in 1954. They were married in Amarillo on February 11, 1956. In 1960 they moved to Lubbock, where the family grew to five members. 

In 1966, Tom and Jo bought acreage a short distance outside Lubbock, built a house and planted a pecan orchard. Over the decades the orchard became very well known on the South Plains as the beautiful and unique Irish Acres.

Tom and Jo eventually expanded Irish Acres from an orchard to include a pecan shelling operation. From day one, Tom and Jo partnered on every decision – they were truly a team. Among her many roles over the years at Irish Acres, Jo may have been best known for helping many fundraising organizations across West Texas support their causes by selling Irish Acres pecans. 

Throughout the years and up until the time of her passing, Jo enjoyed staying in touch with her friends and relatives in Texas and Colorado. She and Tom always enjoyed having guests and visitors come see them at Irish Acres. Tom, along with everyone in their family and their guests, enjoyed Jo’s amazing cooking, which is something she enjoyed doing her entire life. Jo also became an accomplished fly fisherwoman, which she and Tom enjoyed doing together during their frequent stays in southwestern Colorado. 

Jo’s survivors credit her longevity to staying mentally active right up to the time of her passing, staying physically active for as long as her health allowed and to getting to live with Tom in the middle of a beautiful pecan orchard.

Jo was preceded in death by Tom, whom she was married to for 68 years, and by her parents. She is survived by her sister Shirlene Kehoe of Marble Falls, TX; children, Kevin and wife Kathy of Richmond, TX, Dan and wife Susan of Plano, TX, and Kelley Braziel and husband Paul of Midland, TX; grandchildren, Matt Killian (Kristi), Aaron Killian (Amy), Shelly Sully (Colin), Sarah Killian, Bryce Killian, Grayson Braziel and Layth Braziel; eight great grandchildren, each of whom she and Tom were blessed to get to know during their lifetimes; and, 14 nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Lubbock - specifically ShaRae Madewell, R.N., who cared for Jo and Tom. The family also wishes to thank Lora Jo Southerland, Jo’s private caregiver.  

For those who would like to honor Jo’s life and legacy, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Lubbock www.providence.org/locations/covenant-health/hospice-of-lubbock 

OR 

the American Macular Degeneration Foundation www.macular.org 

According to Jo’s wishes, no services are to be held.