Compassionate, Loving, outdoorsy, funny, and a fiery dynamo are just a few of the words that we would
use to describe the lovely lady Joan Claire (Hight) Travis that left her Earthly body on February 15, 2023, at the age of 90 to be with God.
She was an amazing wife and mother, but she was also a professional woman that was deeply engaged in her work.
Jo, as she was nicknamed, was born to John and Ina Hight (both of whom proceed her in death) in
Eaton, Indiana. She was the younger sister of her beloved Mary Alice Veal, who also proceeded her in
death. She was a 1950 graduate of Spencer High School. She then graduated from the Indiana Teacher’s
College (which later became Indiana State University) in 1955 with a double major in Biology and
Physical Education. She married Cliff K. Travis that same year and he survives her. She taught at
Bloomington High School (yes, there was only one then) whilst Cliff finished law school at Indiana
University School of Law. In college, she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, as well as fifty-year
member of Tri Kappa Philanthropic Sorority.
They moved to Ft. Wayne for Cliff’s first job where she gave birth to three of her four daughters (all of whom survive her): Theresa Ann Travis, M.D. (Dennis Wellman), Rebecca Jane Taber R.N. (Tim) and Beatrice Claire Travis, M.D. (Gregory Maddox). Joan and Cliff moved back to Bloomington in 1968 when Cliff became Chief Counsel for Indiana University. There she gave birth to her fourth daughter, AmyMarie Travis, J.D., who also survives her.
She attained her Master’s Degree in Adapted Physical Education from Indiana University in 1978 and
joined Stone Belt Center that same year. She taught Adapted Physical Education for both Stone Belt
Center and M.C.C.S.C. Joan became the Director of Residential Services for Stone Belt Center in 1984, a
position she cherished while she worked tirelessly with her team to expand the program. Upon her
retirement in 1998, she was awarded the State’s highest honor, Sagamore of the Wabash, by Governor
Frank O’Bannon.
In addition to her husband and daughters, Jo is survived by her grandchildren Sarah Wellman Burton (David), Stephen Wellman, Amber, Morgan, Sean and Brooke Taber, Trenton (Liz), and Samuel Lucas, as well as her beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her best friend, Maureen Gahan.
Our thanks also go to her entire care team and especially Sandy Sheffield, who provided round-the-clock friendship, loving support, and medical treatment.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Please join us in Celebrating the Life of Joan C. Travis at
McCormick’s Creek State Park Canyon Inn, Spencer, Indiana on March 25, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. There
will be a program from 1:30 p.m. to approximately 2:15 p.m. and then an open house visiting until 4:00 p.m.
