CLINTON — Mary Jo (Fox) Joss died at the age of 74 on August 13, 2026. She selected cremation.
She was a devoted wife, beloved by her husband, and mother of five. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother.
Roger and Mary Jo had been married for 56 years and 54 days. He has been known to say, “Being married to me that long should make her a candidate for sainthood.” He waits for the day to be reunited with her.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Clinton Presbyterian Church on October 17 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Paul Stroup officiating, Mr. Jeremy Lemann at the organ. Interment will be at the Griffith plot in Woodlawn Cemetery. Please come to honor this lovely child of God who devoted her time unselfishly serving others.
What was Mary Jo like?
During her maiden life, she owned a horse on whom she loved to ride. In high school, she learned to be a very good seamstress, doing quality work. She and her family were Western square dancers. She made her own matching square dance outfits. To work from sewing patterns is one thing, however, even as a teenager, she was able to tailor her clothes from only a design sketch. She made her own patterns for making her prom dresses and wedding gown that her future husband designed and sketched for her. She did the same for her four-piece, 19th century gown for the 1975 Apple ‘n Pork Festival. The gown still exists.
She could do various kinds of needle work, such as knitting, crochette, embroidery and needle point. She was also a good cook and loved to dance and sing. She had a kind spirit toward everyone, and she donated when able to several charities.
She learned a variety of dances from her boyfriend, fated to be her husband. She learned ballroom waltzes, Chacha, calypso, two-step, foxtrot, tango, polkas, and Charlston. Later in their marriage, she and her husband traveled to Florida to visit his great-aunt Alfa, and they danced a polka at the Jolly Roger Night Club, in Fort Lauderdale. They not only cleared the floor but got an ovation. She gave the credit to the Singapore Sling she drank beforehand. They traveled from coast to coast and liked camping on the way.
When Roger lost his job at General Electric in 1983, he had to commute to Chicago for work. This put extra hardship upon her to keep the family functioning, besides working outside the home under impoverished conditions. From that point on, life was one struggle after another. Probably, her only vice would be her love of millinery (hats).
Two of her children gave her a total of six grandchildren. Once the children had gone, she and her husband lived a somewhat secluded life rekindling their love for each other and reminiscing over better times that seemed ancient by then.
Gradually, the memories became obscured. Treasured pictures began losing their luster, ushering in memory loss that steals away one’s value of life, replacing it all with aches and pain.
For the final days, death eases in unopposed, and the veil gently drops ending all earthly concerns. Fairwell my love ‘till we meet again. Requiem in pace. Æternam gloria et amare.
