Mary Josephine "Mary Jo" Lovelace, 93, Adrian, MO, died Thursday, January 18, 2018 at Adrian Manor, Adrian, MO.  Funeral services were held January 21, 2018 at the Victory Assembly of God in Adrian with burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian. Memorial contributions may be made to Crescent Hill Cemetery.

Mary Jo was born December 12, 1924 in a farmhouse near Marco, Indiana to Aden and Jesse Jackson. Mary Jo lost her father at a young age and became a comforter and helpmate to her mother around the family farm. Staying close as a family was important to Mary Jo and she developed close personal relationships with her siblings Dottie, Lucille, Jim and Alberta.

As a young woman Mary Jo worked at CRANE Naval Depot during World War II as a secretary for Naval Officers. As many people did during this era, Mary Jo did what she could to support the troops and serve her Country.

In 1947 Mary Jo married Robert Lovelace and together they had three boys; Alan, Mark and Stephen. Mary Jo was a dedicated wife and mother but most of all a person of high moral integrity. Mary Jo made it a way of life to instill Godly values in each of her sons to ensure they knew Jesus and that each of them knew they had a purpose in life.

Mary Jo made the best of every opportunity she had while she was raising her family and always lived life to the fullest by having fun and working hard. Mark and Stephen recall times when Mary Jo would race them from the barn to the house with a bucket of milk in each hand and still beat them. The race was fun but she would still give them a hard time for running heavy footed. Alan recalls Mary Jo as a hard worker. As a young boy he can remember her working in the garden and canning fruits and vegetables outside over an open fire.

As the wife of a coal miner and farmer, life often brought many changes but Mary Jo was always up for the challenge. She never missed a beat as she raised her family in various locations in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. In 1972, however, the moving stopped and Mary Jo and Robert laid down roots in Adrian, Missouri.

Her time in Adrian was arguably the greatest time in her life as she became a grandmother. Mary Jo loved her grandchildren and was blessed with seven; Ryan, Brock, Monty, Aden, Mark, Michael and Sarah. All of her grandchildren share similar experiences of her love and kindness, of how good you felt when she was around and how wonderful her house smelled when you walked through the back door.

Mary Jo loved to cook and provide for others but when she did it for her grandchildren it seemed to be extra special. Mary Jo could prepare a spread of food fit for a king and then look at you, smile and say "now that's all you get!"

Now through all the love and kindness Mary Jo still managed to maintain her subtle competitive edge, even with her grandchildren. On many days, there were wiffle ball games in Mary Jo's backyard and occasionally the games were a player short. Even though there was work to be done, Mary Jo would always take time to fill the void. Mary Jo would typically pitch and occasionally bat. On one occasion, the game was getting tight and a big play was needed to break it open. Mary Jo was up to bat and on her first swing she sliced the ball past third base, which was a tree, and in to left field. Mary Jo hurried to first base, which was another tree, but wasn't satisfied with a single and kept going. While she was running, Mary Jo realized that any chance she had of making it to second base, which was a gas meter, would require something dynamic. So Mary Jo did what any grandma would do, she slid in under the tag and made it in safely. At this point in life it is unclear what team won that day but what is clear is that Mary Jo was there with her grandchildren.

For over 40 years, Mary Jo was a dedicated member of First Assembly of God church and established herself as a spiritual leader for many women over the years. Mary Jo was faithful to the Lord and the Church and remained steadfast through good times and bad. She saw the church change buildings and even its name to Victory Assembly of God but she never saw it change its purpose of winning souls for Jesus Christ. A mission such as that requires people that long for the heart of the living God and Mary Jo did that. When she prayed God knew it and HE blessed her for it.

Mary Jo's biggest accomplishment is how she led her life and the example she set for her family and friends. Mary Jo loved Jesus and often spoke to others about her faith and what it meant to her but most importantly what it could do for them. This was not a passing fad but way of life. Mary Jo read the word of God, hid it in her heart and used the light that it created in her to sew into the lives of acquaintances, friends and most importantly her family.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Mary Jo's family and the relationships they have built with the Lord Jesus stand as a testament to the way Mary Jo lived her life. Mary Jo laid the foundation and created a legacy for her family to follow. A legacy to know as they continue maneuvering thorough this old life that they have hope through the truth of Jesus Christ that a new life soon awaits them.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Jessie and Aden Jackson, her siblings, Dottie, Lucille, Jim and Alberta, and her husband, Robert Reason Lovelace. She is survived by her children, Alan and wife, Teri Lovelace of Franklin, TN, Mark and wife, Pam Lovelace of Adrian, MO, and Stephen and wife Albeth Lovelace of Adrian, MO; seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.