Mary Jo was born in Ocala, Florida, to William Earl Royal and Jewel Boyer Wade on July 21st, 1936. A graduate of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, Mary Jo spent her life as a very private lady, totally devoted to tending to her family and extremely proud of her children. A fourth generation Floridian, she very much loved and derived immense enjoyment from things like camping at Fort DeSoto Park and watching her grandchildren fish, Memories such as these she truly cherished and was avid in sharing with anyone who would listen. She was also a member of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her father William Earl Royal, her mother Jewel Boyer Wade, husband of 42 years Virgil Ferrell, husband of 22 years Jim Godshalk, brothers Bob and Bruce Royal and son James William Ferrell.
Mary Jo is survived by her daughter Beth Harper (Rob), her sons Robert Ferrell (Dawn) and Mark Ferrell (Lisa), 22 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens, Brandon, Florida, Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, at 1 pm, officiated by Dr. Yves Johnson, Pastor of Christ-Centered Community Church, Tampa.
