Jo Anne Smiley:
CLASS OF 1958
Clarkton High SchoolClass of 1958
Clarkton, MO
Southern Methodist UniversityClass of 1962
Dallas, TX
Jo Anne's Story
City of Clarksville, Missouri
Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor
Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor Jo Anne Ashbaugh Smiley was
reared on a farm in southeast Missouri, near Clarkton, MO.
Her father farmed hundreds of acres of cotton, soy beans,
corn, and wheat and raised cattle and hogs and was a book-
keeper for a Cotton Gin. Her mother was a master piano
teacher, and a church organist who also taught music in
schools. Jo Anne began the study of piano at the age of
four. She discovered her passion for music, singing and
performing in musicals, operas, and choirs, and directing
choral music while attending Southern Methodist University,
Dallas, Texas and receiving degrees in Music Education and
Sacred Music. Jo Anne's schools include Clarkton High School.
Jo Anne later attended Southern Methodist University
(the voice, Music, Piano) .
In her career, Jo Anne has been a soloist, piano teacher, and choral director in school, community, and
church. She was an active member of area, state, and national professional music organizations. She
served as a clinician and adjudicator for music festivals, and a presenter at conventions, speaking
extensively on the importance of music education for the future of our society. Jo Anne has worked in
Theatre as a director, actor, musician, and producer. She spent 30 years as a teacher of Choral Music in
Ladue Public Schools, St. Louis MO.
Following her marriage to Wayne M. Smiley, organist/teacher/musician, she continued teaching and
directing church choirs while they shared responsibilities in the Ministry of Music. She was elected to the
Board of Directors of the St. Regis Corporation of St. Louis with responsibility for maintenance and
management of a 40 unit luxury Co-op. Four years later she assumed the position of President of St. Regis
where she served two terms. In 1990 Wayne and Jo ...Expand for more
Anne purchased a Victorian home in Alton, IL and
spent ten years restoring a JEWEL.
Upon retirement, the lure of Clarksville continued to beckon to the Smileys. In 2001 they opened
B. T. Dove Antiques on Howard Street. In 2003 Jo Anne was elected to the Clarksville Board of Alderman
and in 2005 she was elected to serve as Mayor of Clarksville. (Re-elected in 2015)
In 2013 Mayors Select New Leadership for Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative; Memphis’ Wharton and Dubuque’s Buol to serve as Co-Chairs.
The following Mayors were chosen for the MRCTI Executive Committee: MO - Jo Anne Smiley, Clarksville; MN - Dave Kleis, St. Cloud; WI - Mark Huber, Prescott; IA - Mark Vulich, Clinton; IL - Tom Thompson, Grafton; KY - David Lattus, Hickman; MS - Larry Brown, Natchez; and LA - Hyram Copeland, Vidalia. The committee added a Founder's Seat for Francis Slay, St. Louis.
Modeled after the successful Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, MRCTI is an effort coordinated by the Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI) with funding from the Walton Family Foundation to create an influential voice for the Mississippi River that dramatically increases demand for effective river protection, restoration and management in Washington, D.C. The recent severe drought and floods severely impacted the towns, cities and people who live and make a living along the Mississippi River highlighted the urgent need for a unified effort to
protect and sustain the River.
As the ecological linchpin to the 37-state Mississippi River Basin, the River is responsible for creating $105 billion worth of U.S. GDP; providing drinking water for more than 18 million; transporting 62 percent of our nation’s agricultural output; delivering nearly 400 tons of coal and petroleum products; and directly supporting one million jobs and millions more indirectly.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to start a reunion event!
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!