NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Marlyn Joan “Jo” Adkins, of Sutherland, Neb., died in North Platte, Neb., on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the age of 83.
Jo was born Jan. 2, 1938, near Lance Creek, the youngest of five children born to Harvey and Goldie Overman. Jo grew up in Wyoming and received her education in the Lusk and Torrington areas. When she was a teen and young adult, Jo worked as a waitress alongside her mother in many of the cafes in Torrington.
While working at a cafe, Jo met Keith Adkins, a young man working in town for the Union Pacific Railroad. The two married on Sept. 3, 1960, at Reno, Nev. To this union four children, Mollie, Cassie, Scott and Clark, were born.
The couple moved to North Platte in 1962 with Mollie. By 1970, the family had grown and Jo and Keith realized the enjoyment of rural living so they moved to Sutherland. Life now included horses, cattle and open space for the kids. While Keith worked on the railroad, Jo held down the fort wrangling kids, horses and cattle while he was gone. As a family, everyone pitched in to cowboy, check cows, pull calves, butcher chickens and can the corn and garden goodies.
Jo was a loving wife and a great mom to her children and all their friends. There was always coffee on and room for one more at her table and George Strait music playing in the background.
When Keith suddenly passed away in 1981, Jo found herself with three teenagers and a little one under two, so she went back to the workforce. She worked at Super Foods for Dean and Kathy Kealy in Sutherland and Wallace and later at Super Stop. She eventually retired at the tender age of 74 from Ozzie’s where she worked for Steve and Vicki Osborn.
In 1984, Jo got the best promotion ever, she was now Grammy! Over the years, she was blessed with 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with another due in April.
Jo will be greatly missed by her daughters, Mollie Duncan, of Torrington, Cassie (Sean) Hoffman, of Sutherland, Neb., sons, Scott (Dawn) Adkins, of North Platte and Clark (Amber Pierce) Adkins, of Sioux Falls, S.D., and bonus son, Scott Jones, of Mullen; sister, Frances Dodson, of Torrington; as well as her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beloved nieces, nephews and other family.
Along with her husband, Keith, Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Goldie Overman; sisters, Vergie Overman, Norma ‘Shorty’ Neifert; brother, Harver Overman; and son-in-law, Jim Duncan.
A funeral service was held at the Sutherland Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Riverview
Cemetery. For those unable to attend, services were recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Sutherland Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.
