Alma Jo McGuire, born July 25, 1934 in Lexington, Kentucky, and after a long-fulfilling life full of many achievements, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2024.

Alma Jo, called Jo by her friends and family, was the daughter of Frank Hamilton Atkins and Lucille Hargett Atkins. Jo’s Dad was the manager and golf pro at Picadome Golf Course, where they also lived. She grew up on the golf course and learned to play golf at an early age. She was one of the better female golfers in her time in Kentucky. In 1949, she was the youngest player to play and qualify in a state championship. Jo played in the Women’s City Championship many years and was a medalist. She also won the Big Elm (now Picadome) Women’s Club Championship.

Jo attended Picadome Grade School as well as Lafayette Junior and Senior High. At Lafayette she was a cheerleader, in the charmettes, choir, Latin club, senior school play and a reveler (school social club). She was an outstanding student and received the American Legion Auxiliary award.

Jo attended the University of Kentucky from 1952-1953, where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and selected as the dream girl of Phi Kappa Tau in 1953 (her future husband, Wayne Crow’s, fraternity). Jo was married to Wayne in 1953 and they had 3 children, Wayne Cecil Crow, Jr, John Theodore Crow and Cynthia Lu (Crow) Gosser. Their marriage was dissolved in 1961. Jo then began working at the Keeneland Race Course where she was involved in many activities in the racing and sales departments for 22 years.

In 1976, Jo was married to Andrew Thomas McGuire until his death in 1997. During this time she became a business partner with Andy and others in the building and establishment of the Lexington Country Place and the Lafayette Retirement Home. She was also involved with owning and racing standard bred horses. In addition to these ventures, Jo also learned to land the airplane her and Andy owned and flew for leisure and business.

Jo’s interest in golf led to being involved in women’s golf at the University of Kentucky. Jo traveled with the team to tournaments for many years and assisted long-time coach Betty Lou Evans. In memory of her father, Jo established the University of Kentucky Atkins-McGuire Golf Scholarship in 2000. This endowment provides funds to the university’s golf scholarship program. She also was a contributor to the construction of the University of Kentucky Golf House which provides indoor practice space for the men’s and women’s teams. In the 1980s, Jo’s Dad was asked to host the 1st Golf Tournament in Kentucky for the benefit of the American Cancer Society which continued for 25 years and was headed by Jo after her father was unable to host the tournament. She received an award for this service and other activities by the American Cancer Society.

In 2000, Jo became re-acquainted with high school friend, Gay Brewer and the two were engaged in 2002. This led to many interesting and enjoyable experiences as Gay was a retired professional golfer but still participated in many tournaments around the country. The pair also traveled to the Masters in Augusta each year as Gay was a former champion (1967). Life came full circle prior to Gay’s passing as the city of Lexington re-named Picadome Golf Course (Jo’s childhood home) as the Gay Brewer Golf Course. Gay passed in 2007 and at that time Jo and some of Gay’s friends set up a grant program for junior golfers in his name. The Gay Brewer Junior Grant Program for junior golfers was established to provide financial assistance to mitigate some of the expenses associated with junior golf tournaments and travel.

In addition to her love of golf, Jo was an avid University of Kentucky sports fan. When she traveled both inside and outside of the US, she would hunt down locations where she could see the wildcats play both football and basketball. She almost never missed a game on TV and attended many football and basketball games in person, including several bowl games and the Maui Classic.

Jo’s other primary interest was in her Wednesday Bridge Club. Jo and a group of high school friends established their bridge club in 1957 and continued to play through the summer of 2023; 66 years of friendship and bridge. Jo’s bridge club meant so much to her that she has named all members as honorary pallbearers. Early members were Barbara (Guy) Rhoads, Pat (Carter) Moore, Mary Jo Snyder Holland and later Rose Guy, Linda Herriford, Doris Hightower and Mary LeMaster.

Above all her interests, family was the most important thing to Jo. Jo was the matriarch of her family and always helpful to them by providing support, advice, encouragement and love in all their endeavors. Jo’s outlook on life was positive and bright and she hopes most of all that she passed this on to her family.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved son, John Theodore Crow, one stepson Thomas McGuire, and one niece Elizabeth (Sean) Green. Jo is survived by her children Wayne Cecil (Susan) Crow, Jr., and Cynthia Lu Crow (fiancée John Poore) Gosser, one brother, Frank H. (Carol) Atkins II. Step-children John McGuire, Kelley Butler and Pamela Stewart. Seven grandchildren, Stephanie Jo Gosser (Nick) Lester, Chelsea Crow (Kyle) Edwards, Dillon Crow, Jordan (Maggie) Crow, Marilyn Crow Brewer, Heather Crow (Nick) Stover, and John (Kaleigh) Crow, step grandchildren Matthew McGuire, Katherine Godsey, Stephanie Zwerner and Justin Zwerner, ten great-grandchildren, Nathan, Tyler and her namesake Raegan Jo Lester, Declan Edwards, Jordan Crow, Lailah Arnold, Alex and Daniel Brewer, and Scarlett and Harvey Crow. Survivors also include niece Jaime (Ken) Verba and one nephew Frank (Ginger) Atkins, III.

Jo also thought highly of Gay’s daughters Kelly (Mike) Allen and Erin (Steve) Provence and their children.

Services will be held at Milward - Southland with interment at the Lexington Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, January 19, 2024 from 12pm-2pm and funeral immediately following at 2 pm.

Pallbearers will be John H. Crow, Dillon Crow, Nick Lester, John Poore, Jordan Crow and Matthew McGuire. Honorary Pallbearers are the Wednesday Bridge Club and Jo’s long-time friend Rob Trinler, who she thought of as a son.

Prior to her death Jo requested in lieu of flowers, donations to charities that were near to her heart: American Cancer Society, Hospice of the Bluegrass, the American Diabetes Association or another charity of your choice.

To share a remembrance of Jo or to offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the tribute portion of her obituary page.