Merrie Jo Pokorney, “Jo” (née Pierce)

December 31, 1943 - February 27, 2025

Merrie "Jo" Pokorney of Boise, Idaho, passed away at St. Alphonsus Hospital surrounded by her loving family on February 27, 2025.

Jo was born on December 31, 1943, in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, to Everett and Muriel Pierce, and grew up in Mountain Home, Idaho. Her idyllic childhood was filled with horseback riding, Sunday plane rides with her dad, 4-H, the Trailriders Club, baton twirling, dancing, community activities; and countless adventures with her lifelong best friend, Diane (Javaux) Johnson — often accompanied by their horses, her siblings, Sam and Debbie, and a tight-knit extended family of Pierces and friends.

Jo’s earliest jobs were assisting her father with bookkeeping for his family’s Shell Oil businesses and helping her mother, who was a partner in Mountain Home’s first floral shop, with entertaining and caring for her younger siblings. These experiences shaped her lifelong devotion to family, hard work, and community—values she eagerly passed on to her own children.

As an Air Force wife, Jo lived in Arkansas and Louisiana before returning to Idaho to raise her four children. Her professional career began with the State of Idaho: working first at the Department of Welfare and then finding her true calling at the Elmore County Child Development Center assisting with the physical and educational development of children with disabilities; and later for El-Ada Community Action. Jo's fierce advocacy for early childhood and special education, women’s rights, and equality for all shaped her career and touched the lives of countless members of her community.

As a busy single mom, Jo worked as a night supervisor and served as a Union Rep for many years at the Dining Hall on base, where she built treasured friendships with a close-knit group of coworkers. Many of them moved on to work at Micron, and Jo joined them, commuting from Mountain Home until eventually relocating to Boise to be closer to her adult children. Upon retiring, she wholeheartedly embraced her most cherished role—Grandma JoJo.

JoJo’s greatest joy was her family, and nothing gave her more pride or made her smile wider than being Grandma JoJo. She adored dancing with her grandchildren and teaching them her signature moves, cheering for them at games & activities, and creating memories filled with humor, love, and lots of sass. She also enjoyed sharing her love of animals and learning through excursions at the Zoo, Discovery Center, paddle boats, fish hatchery, Botanical Garden, any park, and especially the Bruneau Dunes.

Sneakily teaching her grandkids life skills was JoJo’s superpower: budgeting via treasure hunts at the Dollar Store and Powell’s Sweets; fractions by counting change, telling time, and cooking; organizing and preserving treasures, photos, and snacks through the miracle of Ziplocs; naughty words and gestures through driving across Boise in traffic; and most importantly, that the best date to any family gathering is a giant cheesecake with berries and whipped cream.

Jo is survived by sister, Debbie Ireland; four children: Chris Frandsen (Huongy), Cindee Metier Flynn (Dennis), Kellee Metier Sharples (Judson), and Shawn Metier (Mandie); eight grandchildren - Parker, Tanner, Austin (Miranda), Gannon, Simon, Madison, Everett, and Sophia; and great-grandchildren, Carter and baby sister in utero; her special nephew, Jake (Lori) Ireland, and countless loved ones.

Preceded in death by her loving parents Everett and Muriel Pierce, brother Samuel, beloved nephew Buford Ireland, and an extraordinary group of cherished family and friends.

 A graveside burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. on March 21, 2025, at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home, Idaho, with a celebration of life immediately following at the American Legion Hall. Please bring your stories, laughter, a dance move or song as we honor her memory.

JoJo’s spunky spirit, fierce loyalty, legendary sass, and many acts of kindness and support will live on in the hearts of everyone lucky enough to have known or loved her.

Our infinite gratitude goes to the exceptional team of nurses, physicians, occupational therapists, and support staff at St. Alphonsus Neuro Trauma Surgical ICU, Step Down ICU, and Comfort Care, who so lovingly cared for our mom.

In lieu of flowers, JoJo would encourage memorial donations to be made to El-Ada Community Action:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CU3RUMMTVCL9S