Joceline Helene Stover

Joceline “Jo” Stover, 99. Port Townsend, WA May 27, 2025

Joceline “Jo” Helene (Schmocker) Stover was born on November 25, 1925, in Sequim, Washington, to John and Helene Schmocker, hardworking dairy farmers who emigrated from Switzerland. She grew up on Crocker Lake Farm with her younger brother, Johnny, and attended school in Discovery Bay.

Two days after graduating from Quilcene High School, Jo took a job with the credit bureau in Port Townsend. Later, she took a position on Indian Island, where she met a young Bostonian sailor named John Wesley “Wes” Stover—better known to everyone as Smokey. The two quickly fell in love and married on September 12, 1945. Their early journeys took them as far as Guam, where they were stationed during Wes’s service—an experience that left them with a trove of stories and a lifelong love of travel.

After returning to Port Townsend, they built their home and in 1950, welcomed their only child, John Thomas Stover Sr. (Tom). As a family, they spent a lot of time helping on the farm and driving to California to visit family.

Jo returned to the credit bureau for a while before joining the Jefferson County Community Action Council where she worked until her retirement in 1988.

Jo and Wes loved adventure. They frequently traveled to visit family around the world—always returning with trinkets and tales—and were known to hop in the car with a friend for a spontaneous trip with no destination in mind. In retirement, they enjoyed visiting their son and his family, fine-tuning their remarkable handmade crafts, and camping (as the City Slicker and Hay Seed on the ham radio) with the Good Sam Club around the Olympic Peninsula. She often stated that Smokey was her best friend.

When Wes passed in 1998, Jo continued to crochet, knit, and quilt for loved ones and those in need, volunteer in the community, and meet regularly with friends over lunch. She was known for her considerable collection of teddy bears and an always-full cookie jar. She was a lifelong member of Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wes; her parents, John and Helene Schmocker; and her brother and sister-in-law, Johnny and Shirley Schmocker. She is survived by her son, Tom, and his wife Paula (Wimberly); grandchildren Craig (and Annette Gustafson), Tom (Kari), and Mary; great-grandchildren Meagan (Gustafson) and Lucy (Stover); beloved nieces; and extended family.

Per Jo’s wishes, no services will be held.