Joena Couch Corkery was born September 23, 1924 and passed on to be with her beloved husband Frank J Corkery on April 16, 2014 at 10:24 pm surrounded by her loving family.She is survived by her daughter Patricia (Pat) Brewer and her husband Bob; grandson Eric Wayne Rumbo and his wife Erica; Great grandsons Samuel Grayson, Louis Holton, Frank Charles Rumbo and Robert Matthew Rich; GREAT GREAT Grandson Kyle William Rumbo; Step grandson John T Brewer and his wife Julie; step granddaughter Angela Gaye Krajca and her husband Richard; and step great grandson Richard Kevin Krajca.Joena was preceded in death by her loving husband of 35 years, Retired Dallas Police Officer Frank J. Corkery who passed June 9, 1996 and her mother, Hazel Ena Newman who passed suddenly on April 20, 1988.She was born in Italy Texas to Hazel Ena Speer and Rudolf Couch but spent most of her young years growing up at 2210 Seevers St in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. After graduating from Adamson High in 1941 she went to Business College and became an expert Executive Secretary to the top Dallas VP at the American Thread Company where she excelled and left with high recommendations after about 15 years to take on additional responsibility at Dow Chemical USA Dallas Sales Department.She remained at Dow Chemical for 22 years until she was forced to take medical retirement in December 1984. At her widely attended retirement party she was presented with the most valuable Memory Book with letters from all the managers she had work directly for and many of the other people she either managed or supported throughout her successful career.Some of the below quotes give a perfect picture of the kind of person Joena Corkery was.Nothing gets you down and your big smile is always there.Very special lady in the life of every hand she touched. You always set a great example for others to follow both in your professional career and your civic contributions.You were the strength of the office and kept us all in line. Your professionalism outshines all Ive come across since Ive been working and it is a pity that more secretaries are not like you.Your smiling face was always there to support my highs and cheer up my trying times. You have been a great counselor, sounding board and friend to all of us here in the Dallas Dow Sales office.You were the special Gutsy Lady with heart that was always there when we needed you and always seemed to be able to make the impossible happen. You made things tick at the Dallas Dow Sales office.Your positive attitude, the creativity and the never-ending willingness to be helpful will always set you ahead of the rest.Nearly every letter said Thank you Jo, for the goodness you have brought to my life.I had to laugh when I read the letter referring to the day Joena went in for her interview for the executive secretary to the GSM for Dow Chemical Dallas Sales office. I well remember the day Jo Corkery came for an interview. I dont think we really found out if she could type. Her classy looks and professional manner were enough. The upper management simply said, Now thats the kind of class this place needs. And little did we realize what class we were getting until Jo came on the scene. She made all strangers feel wonderfully welcome and the secretarial pool that she managed always knew she had their best interest at heart. Jo made our office a very special place. The Civic League will definitely gain from our loss.Life after Dow was filled with many hours of joy participating in a host of volunteer organizations both charitable and political. She was very active in the Civic League, a past Preston West Republican Womens President and honored with a lifetime membership, Dallas Council Republican Women, North Dallas Womens Club, Eastern Star, Brookhaven Book Club, and so many more to mention.Before he passed, Jo and Frank belonged to numerous organizations including Hella Temple, Scottish Rite, 32nd Degree Mason at James A Smith Lodge No. 395, Top of Dallas Shriners Club, Elks Lodge No. 71, Moose Lodge No. 2277, and others.She dearly loved Farmers Branch and took every opportunity to lend support to the community. She knew all of the mayors back to George Grimmer and volunteered as Election judge and supported the campaigns of multiple Republican candidates. Due to poor health, she moved to the Bentley in Dallas for 7 years, but she always wished that she could live back in Farmers Branch. To her great joy, she moved to the Emeritus Assisted Living on Webb Chapel in FARMERS BRANCH.. where she was able to happily spend the last 7 months of her life. She was sharp as a tack until 4 days before she passed. Many times a day she would thank God for the gift of allowing her to keep her brain even though the rest of her body was declining.Jo was a strong, beautiful, amazing, classy, successful, compassionate, positive, grand lady that lived a full wonderful life with friends, family, travel, dancing, parties, politics, always had an upbeat attitude in adverse situations and looked for the silver lining always focusing on the positives.. She was an inspiration to the family and all who knew her.Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church.Please send family condolences and sign the guestbook on this website.