Mary Jo Maher, 68

Mary Jo Maher, 68, Emerson, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at the Jenny Edmondson Hospital in Council Bluffs after a brief illness.  

Mary Jo Maher was born Feb. 12, 1945, in Villisca, the daughter of Joseph and Ruby (Honeywell) Hinkle. She was raised in Villisca graduating from Villisca High School in 1963.

Mary Jo married Michael “Mick” Maher April 24, 1965, in Shenandoah. Four children were born to this union, Michelle, Lisa, Tony and Shari.

Mary Jo lived her whole life in southwest Iowa and moved to Emerson in 1979. Throughout the years, Mary Jo worked for Thomas D. Murphy Company and the Glenwood State School, retiring in 1986.  She was a former Emerson City Council member, enjoyed cooking for her neighbors, loved the outdoors and enjoyed sawing wood.

Preceding her in death were her parents.  

Survivors include her children, Michelle Faxon and husband Paul of Macedonia, Lisa Weak and husband Roger of Hastings, Tony Maher of Carson and Shari Chleborad and husband Dave of Omaha; grandchildren, Brooke and Bailey Faxon, Courtney and Brianna Weak and Coy and Frannee Jo Maher; a sister, Donna Larson of Cedar Rapids; a brother, Stephen Hinkle of Springfield, Mo.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Villisca Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at the Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel. A memorial fund is being established in Mary Jo’s name.

Nelson-Boylan-LeRette Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.