Vera J. Escott, 78, died peacefully at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Timbercrest Retirement Community Healthcare surrounded by her husband Stan and members of her family. Joanne had suffered from a lengthy pulmonary illness, the result of heart surgery. Joanne was born October 15, 1937, to Joseph and Vera (Pirtle) Cole, in Terra Haute IN. She spent her early years in Avila, IN, and later moved to Fort Wayne with her family. She was a 1955 graduate of North Side High School, earned her BS degree in Education from Illinois State University in 1969, and in 1978 received her MA from Manchester University. For 27 years she taught fourth grade in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, retiring in 1999 from Metro-North Elementary, Wabash, IN., where she taught for 22 years. In 2005 she was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher in Indiana. Joanne was an active member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and had been an officer in WELCA. She was a member of the first Indiana Via Di Christo team, served as President of the North Manchester Symphony and was active in the Fine Arts Club. She was an outstanding volunteer for Heifer International where she spent three months, each of four years, serving as host of the Visitor''s Center at the Heifer Learning Center at Heifer Ranch, Perryville, AR. At Timbercrest, she was a member of the Chapel Committee, was a volunteer in the Marketplace Shop and participated in many community groups and activities including the Book Club. She was seen by her many friends as the "personification of grace." Joanne is survived by her husband, Stan Escott, four children: Stephannie (Ron) Kennedy, Cincinnati, OH; Beth (Don) Newcomer, Fallbrook, CA; Laura (Phil) Schwartz, Goshen, IN, and Eric Escott, Montrose, CA. She has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She is survived by her step-mother, Dolores Buckalew Cole, Fort Wayne, IN; and seven siblings: Byron (Joyce) Cole, Fort Wayne; Lonnie (Kathy) Cole, Waiklona, HA; Richard Cole, Fort Wayne; Sue (Art) Kelly, Indianapolis; Kent (Wendy) Cole, Churubusco, IN; Kara (Russ) Alberson, Churubusco; and Jodi (Craig) Chapman, Fort Wayne. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Timbercrest Chapel located at 2201 East Street, North Manchester, IN, 46962, on Sunday January 31, 2016, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm with the memorial service starting at 3:00pm with Pastor Paul Borg officiating. Preferred Memorials are to Heifer Learning Center 55 Heifer Road Perryville AR. 72126 and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 113 West Main Street North Manchester, IN,