Jo Louise Bullis

Jo Louise Bullis, 62, was born May 5, 1953 in Jamestown, North Dakota to Robert E. and Mary (Fagering) Bullis. She passed away peacefully Friday, May 15, 2015.

As a young child, Jo lived in Woodworth, North Dakota. The family later moved to Jamestown, where Jo graduated from Jamestown High School in 1971. She then attended the University of North Dakota (UND) and graduated with a BS in Physical Therapy/Therapist in 1976. After several years, Jo felt a calling to return to UND and graduated from the School of Law with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in 1983. She began her law career as Assistant State's Attorney in Watford City, ND.

In 1988 Jo began working at the Women's Resource Center, a domestic violence and sexual assault agency, serving 5 counties, in Traverse City, MI. She began as Volunteer Coordinator, moved to Program Director, then Executive Director, retiring in 2013. While at the Resource Center she was instrumental in implementing the domestic violence task force, which brought support to victims of domestic violence in 4 counties of northern Michigan. She also brought the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program to the Traverse City Hospital.

Jo was also Adjunct Professor at Northwestern Michigan College and taught courses on criminal law, criminal procedure, ethics, diversity, civil rights and interpersonal communication, domestic violence nature and prevalence, as well as domestic violence law.
As far as awards and accolades are concerned, for many of Jo's childhood years in Woodworth, she was a Spelling Bee champion; during her high school years, she won the Betty Crocker Award; and she was Editor of the Law Review her final year at UND School of Law. Jo won the Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award 2000, from the Traverse City Human Rights Commission; she was a recipient of "The Outstanding Woman Leader", presented by the Zonta Club of Traverse City; Michigan Lawyers Weekly honored Jo with the Women in the Law Award 2010; she received the prestigious Sunshine Peace Award 2010, of which only 15 are awarded nationally every other year; and she received the Madeline Thomas Award from Grand Traverse.
The family asks that any contributions be made in Jo's name to a charity of your choice.

Jo enjoyed gardening, reading, and regularly attending WE Fest and other concerts. It was known by her close friends that on trips to and from North Dakota, she made a point of always dipping her toes in Lake Superior. She loved her pets (2 dogs and 2 cats); she was a wonderful and loyal friend to many; a humanitarian for peace and justice; and a compassionate, generous, patient and determined woman. A life well lived describes Jo Louise Bullis.
Surviving Jo are her mother, Mary Bullis Hoyt, Jamestown, ND; brother, Greg (Marsha) Bullis, Watertown, SD; step brothers, Don Hoyt, Jr., Kauai, HI; Bruce Hoyt, Fargo, ND; step sister, Lana Hoyt, Marysville, WA; aunts and uncles, Leone and Glen Stenberg, Bismarck, ND; Dolores Bullis, Fargo, ND; Barbara Bullis, Mesa, AZ; along with Joan and Joe Lake, Mesa, AZ. Also surviving her are many cousins, friends and especially dear friends Marlys Skogmo, Detroit Lakes, MN; Joan Gehlhar, Ypsilanti, ND; Candace Wick, Woodworth, ND; Mickie Novorolsky, Traverse City, MI and their families.

Greeting Jo at the pearly gates were her dad, Bob Bullis, grandparents and other family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to a charity of your choice.
Memorial Service: 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Eddy Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Kristina Waters, officiating.
No Visitation.
Burial: Highland Home Cemetery.
Online guest book: www.eddyfuneralhome.com

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Jo Louise Bullis , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.