JoAnn Summers Carney was born March 10, 1931 in Clay, West Virginia and died on April 26, 2020 in Melbourne, FL. She was the daughter of the late Alexander H. Summers and Hattie Young Summers.

She often spoke of the good memories of growing up in West Virginia, swimming in the Elk River, playing in the creeks and running the mountains. She went to Washington D.C. to find employment at the age of 19.

Her first job was with Consumers Credit Corp in Silver Springs, MD. She also worked for the Department of Labor, Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon and then at the Department of the Air Force at Patrick AFB during the missile years. A highlight was watching various rockets blast off from various rooftops.  She worked for the Social Security Administration in Ocala, the VA Medical Center in Kansas City, and NASA (Kennedy Space Center) during the shuttle era. She watched the Challenger explosion from the NASA HQ building. When her children were in school, she worked part time at Bowe Garden Kindergarten and Eau Gallie High School.  She eventually retired from the National Weather Service office in Melbourne, FL.

JoAnn traveled extensively across the United States as well as around the world while her late husband Jack Carney was National Commander in Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They met many dignitaries including two United States Presidents. JoAnn was a member of the John Young Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Charleston, WV, a life member of the VFW Auxiliary, Post 4643 Satellite Beach, FL and a life member of the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, MI. Genealogy was her favorite hobby – she traced part of her family back to Pocahontas.

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband John M. "Jack" Carney. She is survived by two daughters Suzan Smith and Melody Hudson. She is also survived by her son Timothy (Theresa) of Melbourne along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed by numerous other family members and lifelong friends. Preceding her in death include brothers Chilton and Eugene and sisters Eloise and Mary.

JoAnn is requesting that donations be made in her memory to the ASPCA.