Mary Jo Ellis

1935 - 2017

Mary Jo Ellis

Stuart

Mary Jo Ellis, 82, of Stuart, Iowa passed away June 17, 2017 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart Chapel. A prayer service will be held following the visitation at 7:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Jo's name to either Taylor House Hospice and/or Project Restore in Stuart.

Mary Jo was born January 5, 1935, in Beaver Township in rural Guthrie County, Iowa to Stephen and Angelia (James) Glenn. The family continued to live in the Stuart/Des Moines area up until moving to Douglas, Wyoming. Mary Jo attended Douglas High school her sophomore and senior years graduating with the class of 1953. Shortly after, Mary Jo moved back to Iowa where she met and was later united in marriage to Jack Ellis on November 21, 1954 in Des Moines. Together they became the proud parents of five children, Teresa, James, Daniel, Susan and Gwen. Mary Jo worked for the United States Postal Service both in Stuart and at the main distributer office in Des Moines. Also, throughout the 1970's she served as a librarian at the school and the local library. Mary Jo was a lifelong member of the All Saints Catholic Church where she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society and a past member of the Catholic Daughters. Other memberships included the Stuart Rescue Unit and a volunteer member of the Stuart Public Library. Mary Jo enjoyed reading, working with her flowers, her pets, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Angelia Glenn, step-mother, Theresa Glenn, brother, Pat Glenn and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and nephews.

Mary Jo leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children, Teresa Ayers of West Des Moines, James Ellis of Des Moines, Daniel Ellis of Iowa City, Susan (Terry) Barkema of Randall and Gwen (Jim) Folkerts of Van Meter; grandchildren, Joe Ellis, Michael Folkerts, Stephen Folkerts, Keyon Ellis, Chrisie Barkema and Ellie Folkerts; great grandchildren, October Gray and Fiona Ellis; siblings, James (Kathy) Glenn, Michael (Della) Glenn, Grace Draman, Terri Cebuhar and Mark Glenn; sister-in-law's, Joan Gayle Glenn and Mernie Ellis and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all of whom will miss her greatly. (Arrangements: Johnson Family Funeral Home - Stuart Chapel).