Mari Jo was born September 14th, 1933, to Cecil F. Shields and Hazel “Charlene” (Stewart) Wetzel in Breckenridge, Missouri. She was raised in Mooresville, Missouri where she later graduated from high school.
She married James W. Smith on December 24, 1950, and they were blessed with five children and later six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Known as “Mom,” “Grandma,” or “Grammy,” Mari Jo was passionate about her family. She often left her front door open when she was home for anyone who might stop by during the day. While she spent a lot of her free time with her grandchildren, she also had a love of animals and adopted several cats over the years. She enjoyed gardening, going to garage sales, watching basketball, crafting, bird watching and spending more time with Jim once retired from her position at the Sears Catalog department of 17 years.
Mari Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim (July of 2007) and her two oldest sons: Glen and Kenneth. She is survived by two sons: Jeffery Smith, Scott Smith (Elena), one daughter Cynthia (Tom Maness), daughter in law Cindy, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mari Jo will be held Thursday, December 18th, 2025, at 1pm at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, Missouri. Burial will follow in the White Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri, 64111 or Unleashed Pet Rescue, 5918 Broadmoor, Mission, Kansas, 66202.
