Mary Jo Reed passed peacefully from this world to the next, surrounded by family and friends, in the late evening of March 8, 2023, at the age of 75, in Greenville, Tx. Some have noted that her passing occurred on International Women’s Day. Many would undoubtably agree that Mary Jo was a unique woman who will be long remembered and greatly missed.
She was born Mary Jo Baker on March 21, 1947 in Tulsa, Ok to Seaman D. and Marion Baker, who preceded her in death. The family moved to Texas, where Mary Jo graduated from Irving High School in 1965. Mary Jo’s love for her Lord and her God-given tendencies to care about and for others took her on a path that saw her healthcare career begin as a nurse’s aide in the office of Dr. Murphy of Irving, Tx in the late 1960s. She went on to complete nursing school and worked in healthcare settings such as a nurse/scrub tech at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, Tx, and frequently as an office nurse in various locales around North Texas, most notably for Dr. Johnstone in Sherman for several years. Mary Jo’s approval to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse was granted by the State of Texas on April 20th,1973.
In 1984, Mary Jo married the love of her life, David Reed (who survives), bringing with her two daughters from a previous union to combine with David’s son and three daughters from his own previous union. Together, Mary Jo, David and their six children became a family. It wasn’t quite ”The Brady Bunch”, but has proved over time nonetheless to be a vibrant and loving amalgamation.
Subsequently, the new family relocated to Greenville, Tx where Mary Jo joined the then-new practice of Dr. Robert F. Deuell, MD. While Mary Jo worked with Dr. Deuell for only a few years, a lifetime of friendship resulted and Dr. Deuell has been a great friend to the family for many years and a true comfort during Mary Jo’s recent and final illness. After leaving office practice nursing Mary Jo began a career that saw her become a beloved home health nurse first with Citizen’s Home Health and later Hunt Regional Home Health. She ended her 4-decade career as a nurse with the latter in 2018. Most recently, Mary Jo enjoyed staying active in something of a second career, working as a courier with White Eagle Water Systems of Caddo Mills, Tx. This latter-day experience allowed her to roam about the countryside in a manner happily recalling her days as a home health nurse.
Mary Jo is survived by the aforementioned David Reed, her sisters Doris King (Fred) and Margaret Malzer (Eric), and children David Reed (Diane), Dee Grubowski (Myron), Laura Steelman (Dennis), Christy Wolff (Matt), Angela Baxter (Ken) and Amber Keenan (Billy).
She was blessed by 16 grandchildren, Daniel Steelman (Tracy), Jeremiah Steelman (Skylar), Mary Jackson (Jesse), Holden Keenan, Sarah Martinez (Arturo), Grace Hampshire (Lawson), Britanny Hagman (Braden), Jessica Steelman, Alena Weeks (Bailey), Ted Reed, Jackie Fontenot (Matthew), Rose Grubowski, Wes Reed, Ben Reed, Emily Wolff, Garrison Keenan and Christopher Wolff.
She has been further blessed with 15 (and counting) great-grandchildren, Madilyn Buster, Zoe Steelman, Makenzie Buster, Brynlee Penner, Bennett Hagman, Orin Hampshire, Jo Weeks, William Fontenot, Coburn Hampshire, Kamryn Steelman, David Fontenot, twins Baker and Bostyn Hagman, Naiome Kai Martinez and the soon to appear, baby boy Weeks.
Additionally, along with her husband David, Mary Jo was also a very active godparent of Rachel Stromsmoe (Skyler) and Tim Vinsant (Ashley), and in turn, godparents of Knox and Jet Stromsmoe and Sarah and Hannah Vinsant.
Countless people who encountered Mary Jo over the more than three decades she spent living, working in and being a highly active member of the community in Greenville have ”Mojo stories” that speak of her kindness, love, and encouraging and joyous spirit.
Visitation Wednesday 3/15 from 6-8:00 pm at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. The funeral will be Thursday 10:00 am at Van Sickle Baptist Church. Burial will occur on 3/22 from 2-2:30 at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
