Mary Jo Turner

1951 - 2024

Mary Jo McDonald Turner, 72, formerly of Mt. Jackson VA, and a long-time resident of New Cumberland PA, was called Home by her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on March 5, 2024, after a brief 2-month illness with Stage 4-metastatic cancer. She left this earthly life in the presence of loved ones at Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill PA.

Mary Jo was a 1970 graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School in Mt. Jackson where she was a star athlete in basketball. She remained athletically-active her entire life, enjoying league bowling (like her mother Delores) and taking up the game of golf in the last several years and loved the sport, and she golfed with the same group of friends regularly and which group gathered annually every Fall for a fun golf weekend at Shenvalee in New Market, which she and her friends thoroughly enjoyed and anticipated. Plus Mary Jo had bragging rights! She was an avid all-around sports fan and especially loved her Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mary Jo also had her favorite hobbies of crocheting, needlepoint and cross-stitch, and she loved giving away her beautiful talents as gifts to family and friends. She also loved flowers and with her green thumb created a beautifully-landscaped yard of assorted colorful flowers and shrubbery, and was especially proud of her big beautiful cherry tree in her front yard. She especially enjoyed cooking and baking (especially her dozens & dozens of CHRISTmas cookies every year without fail that she lovingly gave away as gifts) - for her family and friends and also her church family, and hosted almost every major holiday event for her family among many, many other events, like Bible Study gatherings and game nights with neighbors of Dominoes and Mahjong (a game similar to poker) - including participating in and coordinating almost every fun event at her church that she so enjoyed doing. Mary Jo was very active in her church in all forms of ministry - Eberly's Mill Church of God in Camp Hill PA - where she was a dedicated member and a selfless, servant-hearted friend with a heart of gold, and so well-loved and appreciated by everyone - and she was also a deaconess which position she revered.

Mary Jo's legacy will be cherished by her family and friends for the always-thoughtful and loving and giving person she was to everyone. She never missed a birthday - and there are many in our big family - but you could always count on a birthday card in the mail from "Mary" or "Aunt Josie" - and likewise she did the same for her church family, sending cards for every occasion whether it be for birthday, encouragement, get well, condolence, or just-because. She loved to make people feel loved - it gave her immense joy. And she loved CHRISTmas time when she generously gave gifts to all of her big family. In addition, she loved to write letters - definitely a lost art nowadays - and long and newsy ones (especially to her Momma with details of her very active life that mother eagerly looked forward to) - and her beautiful handwriting alone was worth the letter.

Mary Jo thoroughly enjoyed retirement - in 2014 from her career job at Delta Dental as a Claims Processor. She loved her independent life and blossomed, living a very active social life, and truly lived life to the fullest in her 10 retirement years!

Mary Jo was born on December 8, 1951, in Mt. Jackson as the firstborn of 4 siblings. She was predeceased by her precious brother Johnny McDonald in 2022 from a terminal illness Aphasia and to whom she was extremely close. (She always reminded him she was his favorite sister.) She was also predeceased by her father Harry McDonald in 2003, and by her husband of 40 years Ron Turner in 2014. She is survived by her precious mother Delores McDonald, who currently resides at The Phoenix of Harrisonburg Assisted Living, and until the past year lived in her beloved home of 50+ years on Gospel Street in Mt. Jackson. Mary Jo is also survived by her 3 sisters - Susan McDonald Quinn of Leesburg VA, Julie McDonald Bean & husband Dale of Edinburg, and Lisa McDonald Miller of Mt. Jackson.

"Aunt Josie" is also survived by her 3 nephews and 2 nieces, and her 2 great-nephews and 6 great-nieces, all of whom she loved dearly - and vice versa ~ Brent McDonald Quinn & wife Michelle & their children Riley (12), Camryn (10), & Michael (6) of Leesburg - and Lindsay Miller & mate Mike Doleman and their daughters Mia (15) & Ayla (13), and Cody Miller of Stephens City - and Tyler McDonald and his daughters Aubri (8) & Blaire (6) of Woodstock - and Kasey McDonald Manuel & husband Brent and their son Luther (5) of La Plata MD. Aunt Josie impacted every one of their lives with her loving and thoughtful ways. She was all about Family which she treasured and held close to her heart, and was without question both the center and the glue of her entire McDonald-Turner families. She will be achingly missed.

Mary Jo is also survived by 4 step-children of 50 years - Mark, Lisa, Patrick, & Molly Turner - along with 3 step-granddaughters, and 1 step-great-granddaughter - all of whom reside in close proximity of New Cumberland PA. She was predeceased by 2 step-granddaughters in 2018-2019.

Mary Jo has her Angel Wings now and the Blessing of her sudden passing is she is reunited with her precious Bro Johnny Mac. Lastly, Mary Jo loved butterflys, and she will always be our Family's Angel Butterfly.

We family encourage you to sign the on-line Guest Book to celebrate your special memories of Mary Jo.

Memorial contributions may be made to her church in her honor, Eberly's Mill Church of God, 115 Creek Road, Camp Hill PA 17011.

Her family has planned a Celebration of Life service at our hometown church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran in Mt. Jackson, on Sunday, April 14, at 2pm. Afterwards we will have a social hour of cookies to celebrate our precious
Mary Jo McDonald!

2 Timothy 4:7
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"

Online condolences may be left at valleyfs.com

Arrangements by Heishman Funeral Home Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch, Edinburg.