JoNell Beeler

July 2nd, 1953 - February 9th, 2025

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of JoNell Beeler (71), a loving mother, grandmother, and cherished partner. Jo departed this world surrounded by and cared for by her children (Kaci, Sugar, Brett, Brad, and Luke) and partner, Mike, on Sunday February 9th, 2025, in Taylor, Texas. 

JoNell was born on July 2nd, 1953, in Wichita Falls, Texas, the youngest of six children, to the late William A. and Dorothy Lorraine (Barner) Bowman.

JoNell had a fierce independent streak and a tenacious nature from a young age, determined to make her way in the world at 15 after a tumultuous childhood. "All I wanted was a happy home." As a young mother, JoNell was blessed with a son, Lucas Sean Gouldy, at 16, and a daughter, Sugar Elisa Brown, at 19. She believed this was all the children she was meant to have—"a boy and a girl! I was set!”. However, she later wanted “just one more” with her then-husband, Terry Beeler, and became one of the first-ever in-vitro fertilization mothers at 33 through a program at UCLA. She received the biggest surprise of her life when she learned they were expecting triplets—a remarkable gift that brought immeasurable joy to her life. 

Jo spent months in bed, ensuring that preemie babies Kaci Lorraine Beeler, Bradly Edward Beeler, and Brett Cameron Beeler could be born as healthy as possible. JoNell loved babies and children and had a special affinity and talent for caring for them.

This entered Jo into a period of her life where she greatly thrived and got the happy home she always wanted, creating magical Christmases with multiple decorated trees throughout the house and themed birthdays, often sewing handmade quilts and Halloween costumes from scratch, creating unique and thoughtful party favors and decor, and welcoming neighbor kids into the house for many a sleepover. She was a talented chef (those enchiladas! the fried chicken!), encouraged creative play, and all her children can attest to her skill behind a camera, camcorder, and craft table. 

In her later life, Jo spent 23 years alongside her loving and devoted partner Michael Randall who helped care for her in her various medical needs (though they would both claim they saved each other). The two spent time in Las Vegas, Nevada, before settling in Taylor, Texas, to be closer to Michael’s parents, whom Jo adored. Mike and Jo found a comfortable pace in Taylor, and Jo enjoyed celebrating birthdays, Mother's Day, and holidays with her adult children. 

Jo's passing came after a surprisingly fast moving co-morbidity between end-stage liver disease and adenocarcinoma - the latter undetected until shortly before her death. The hospital doctors and hospice nurses couldn't help but repeatedly comment, "She is one tough lady!". JoNell's tenacity was with her through the very end. Jo's departure from this world was in the way she wished, at home in her bed. 

While her physical presence may be gone, Jo’s legacy of love will live on in the hearts of husband Michael Randall, daughters Sugar Elisa Brown Zonno (Mark Zonno) and Kaci Lorraine Beeler, sons Brett Cameron Beeler, Bradly Edward Beeler (Hillary Beeler) and Lucas Sean Gouldy, sisters Francis Carlisle and Gloria Woodward (Steve Woodward), granddaughters Sophia Zonno, Caraline Gouldy (Jada Allison Miranda), and Lucy Beeler, grandsons Christian Gouldy, Cameron Gouldy, Caeden Gouldy, and Wyatt Beeler. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, beloved grandmother Frances Barner, brothers William (Buddy) Bowman and George Paul Bowman, sister Carol Lively, and previous husbands Robert Gouldy, Stuart Brown, and Terry Beeler. 

It’ll be hard to forget her infectious laugh, her welcoming home, and her multiple figurine clusters sporting three mischievous angels (or bears or lambs), which she loved to point out which figure was which triplet child. We’ll miss you, Mom. 

A celebration of JoNell’s beautiful and unique life will be held on Sunday, March 16th, 2025, in Austin, Texas.

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