She was retired from Cummins Engine Company where she was an office administrator for the engineer department.

She had previously been a member of Clifford United Methodist Church and was attending Hope First Wesleyan Church. She was a fifty year member of Clifford Chapter of Eastern Star and had volunteered for several years at King's Daughter Hospital in Madison. She loved knitting, crocheting, boating, reading, fishing, and NASCAR.

The funeral will be Saturday at 12:00 pm at Norman Funeral Home in Hope with Pastor Barry Goodman officiating. Calling hours will be from 10:00 until service time. Cremation is planned and burial will be at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery

at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be donated to Hope First Wesleyan Church Building Fund.

Born July 3, 1935 in Clifford, IN, Jo Ann was the daughter of Joseph and Bertha Rockwell Essex. She married William Emerson Phares October of 1954. She then married Jerry Rollins March 3, 1972 and he preceded her in death March 16, 2009.

Survivors include; daughters, Stephanie (Jack) Bowers of Mt. Auburn, Bobbi (John) Dailey, Teresa Hadley and Brenda Humbel all of Hope; step-children, Jeff (Karen) Rollins and Greg Rollins of Lafayette, Ben (Holly) Rollins of Lexington, KY and Rick(Donna)Rollins of Columbus; grandchildren, Justin (Nicoletta)Dailey of Columbus, T.J. (Athena) Taylor of Colorado, Danielle Bowers and Dustin Phares of Indianapolis, Craig and Ciara Phares of Columbus, Emily (Shane)

Campbell and Josh Coy of Hope; several step- grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jerry, a son Craig Phares and a sister, Jean Elliott.