Jo Helen Beauchamp passed away after several months of declining health on September 1at The Lodge at Maranatha Village in Springfield, Missouri. She was born July 11, 1927 in Miami, Oklahoma, the oldest child of James Ramey Chilcutt and Mary Francis (Rodgers) Chilcutt.

Following elementary public schools in Diamond Missouri and Commerce Oklahoma, she attended South Junior High School in Joplin. A graduate of Joplin High School in 1946, she was active in music programs, including choir and drum corps. She graduated from Joplin Junior College in1948 and was a member of the Beta Beta Beta Sorority.

She married Billy Yates Murray in 1949 and together operated a bakery in Branson, Mo. before returning to Joplin and raising two sons: Stephen Douglas Murray, of Joplin, and Michael Alan Murray, of Springfield, Missouri.

Active in the Joplin Little Theatre, Jo Helen received Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work in 1960 for her role in "Look Homeward, Angel." She was a member of choir at the Byers Avenue Methodist Church, took classes at Mary Anne Hatley's School of Dance and served as a Civil Defense volunteer.

Jo Helen was an employee at Newton's Jewelers, Zinn's Jewelers and was a front desk receptionist at the opening of Bob Cummings Motor Hotel in Joplin before continuing that work at Mickey Mantle's Holiday Inn.

In 1965, she married Sgt. Clifford J. Beauchamp and began an adventurous life stationed twice in Germany and traveling widely across Europe. Upon military retirement, the couple settled in Springfield and became the long-time owners of five Master Wong's restaurants.

In 1991, Jo Helen started a fund-raising effort to support the former Springfield osteopath, Dr. Marjorie Harmon, and her efforts with Timau Medical Clinic located in Kenya. With her husband, Jo Helen's support expanded to collecting medical equipment and supplies that were shipped to a number of international medical relief organizations. Shipments went to Viet Nam, Ukraine, Albania, Kenya and Central America. The couple was instrumental in starting the MSU Nursing Program by providing equipment and supplies for classroom use. They also worked with the Rainbow Network, Springfield Victory Mission, several area churches and community service organizations. She became a member of the Founder's Club of the Missouri State University Foundation.

For her many charitable activities, Jo Helen was named a "Good Neighbor" Lifetime Achievement Hero in 2004 by the American Red Cross.

Jo Helen is survived by her sons, Stephen Douglas Murray of Joplin and Michael Alan Murray of Springfield and five step-daughters: Lourdes and Amy, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Tina Beauchamp and Mary Glanders of California and Carmella Holwick of Rhode Island. She also leaves her brother, Don Chilcutt and wife Charlotte of Edmond, OK; Barbara Chilcutt, wife of deceased brother Jim Chilcutt of Jefferson City. There are two grandchildren: Chris Murray of San Marcos, TX and Doug Murray of Lincoln, NE, four nephews and one niece. Her extended family includes Jo Helen's dear friend Elvira Brand of Grunstadt, Germany and the Brand children Monica, Sven and Michael.

Visitation will be at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Thursday, September 6 from 10 to noon.  A private burial will be held at a later date at the Ash Grove Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.