Mary Josephine "Mary Jo" "Jojo" Mcmorrow

Mary Josephine "Mary Jo" (JoJo) McMorrow of Battle Creek, MI






Mary Jo, age 99, went home to be with her Lord and Savior early Monday morning, January 19, 2015. She had been a resident at the Veterans Affairs Nursing Center of Battle Creek for about a month after living over 6 years in the care of her great niece and family in Augusta, MI.


Mary Jo, the daughter of Charles and Sylvia (Cummins) McMorrow, was born on March 11, 1915 in Hymera, IN. She was a 1934 graduate of Hymera High School, received her bachelor's degree in 1939 and a Master's Degree in 1951 from Indiana State University. Mary Jo served her country honorably and nobly in the Secret Service Branch (OSS) of the United States Navy both during World War II and the Korean War. She was a teacher at Gavit High School in Hammond, IN and retired after 25 years as the Home Economics Dept. Head in 1977. She then moved to the Battle Creek area in 1978 to be closer to her sister and family.


Mary Jo was a charter member of the Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C.; a member of the Chapter # 32 of Michigan Waves from World War II, Indiana Retired Teachers Association, First United Methodist Church and Delta Gamma Kappa Sorority. In addition, she volunteered for the Battle Creek Humane Society, International Festival of Lights, Burnham Brook Senior Center, the Civic Center and her love for music gave her great joy in supporting the local Sweet Adelines. Mary Jo loved her family, her country and had a special interest in her Irish heritage and protection of animals.


Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, James (Mack) McMorrow in 1970, her sister, Marjorie A. McMorrow in 1986; and three nephews, John Mullen in 1994, James McMorrow in 1991 and C. Richard (Dick) Mullen in 2006.


Surviving are nine great nieces, Debbie Kramer (John) of Fairfield, CA, Jayne Mellor (Gary) of Omaha, NE, Kim Gools of Okemos, MI, Debbie (Dan) Kriech of Indianapolis, IN, Rhonda (Douglas) Stanton of Augusta, MI, Julie McMorrow of Indianapolis, IN, Julie Hendricks (Tim) of Cary, NC, Beth Mullen of Springfield, VA, Amy (John) Jennings of Indianapolis, IN and three great nephews, John Mullen (Barbara) of Dodge City, KS and Patrick (Donna) of Wilmington, NC, Guy Mullen of Richmond, VA, and a cousin, Tony (Joe) Sayers of Lee Summit, MO. She was also surrounded in love by 19 great-great and 10 great-great-great nieces & nephews and many extended family and special friends.


The Memorial Service to celebrate Mary Jo's life will be held on Thursday, April 2nd at 2:00 p.m. at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek with the Rev. Robert L. Zuhl, officiating. Mary Jo's family will greet friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time on Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Battle Creek with military honors bestowed by the United States Navy Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mary Jo's honor may be directed to the VA Medical Center, c/o Recreation Fund or Service Animal Fund, 5500 Armstrong Road, Battle Creek, MI 49016 or the Humane Society of South Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015.