JoDee moved to Gunnison in 1978 with Lou Costello after their extended travels in Mexico. They have lived in Gunnison ever since. They raised three sons, while she finished her education at (then) Western State College, taught Spanish at Gunnison High School and WSC for 13 years, then retired in 2007. Now she is totally dedicated to her art activities and to escaping Gunnison winters.