Mary Jo Kremers

Mary Johanna Sharum Kremers died October 8, 2011 at home after a lengthy illness. She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church. Mary Jo was a great cook, who loved to read and decorate for the holidays.

She was born August 23rd, 1927, in Fort Smith, AR, the youngest of three children of Cornelius and Rosa Merkle Sharum. She graduated from St. Anne’s Academy and worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell.

Mary Jo married Jerome (Jerry) Anton Kremers on December 31, 1946, in Ft. Smith, AR where they raised their nine children. She was a full time stay at home mama who taught her children about love, strength and compassion.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry Kremers, her brother, Charles Sharum and her grandchildren, Jeremy Travis and Falisha McDonald.

She leaves to cherish her memory her grateful children, Don Kremers (Nancy); Mike Kremers (Peggy); Karen Tyler (Steve); JoAnne McDonald (Steve); and Kerry Kremers of Fort Smith, AR; Guy Kremers (Debbie) of Lavaca, AR; Mary Cathey (Larry) of Little Rock, AR; Charles Kremers (Heather) of Arkadelphia, AR and Rosalie (Warren) Leighton of Lincoln, NE; her sister Mildred Coleman of Fort Smith, AR, her brother-in-law, Leonard Kremers, Sr. (Yvonne) of Little.

Rock, AR and her sister-in-laws, Lorene Sharum of Ft. Smith, AR and Marcella Sharum of Springdale, AR.

She leaves behind 24 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews who will greatly miss their grandma, great grandma and aunt.

Rosary services will be held at Fentress Mortuary at 1805 North “A” street at 7:00 pm, on Monday, October 10th, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial will be at Saint Boniface Catholic Church 1820 North “B” street at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 11th with Father Jon McDougal as the celebrant. The eulogy will be performed by Raymond Coleman. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Mike Kremers, Jake Kremers, Nick Kremers, Cory Travis, Sam Tyler, Joseph Paul Sonnier, Steve McDonald and Steve Tyler. Honorary Pallbearers include her grand daughters Charissa Bratcher, Siobhan Kremers, Stephanie Kaufman, Cara Travis, Morgan Kremers, Sarah Rodgers, Elizabeth Kremers and Claire and Ava Leighton.

The Kremers children want to say a special thank you to our brother, Kerry Joseph, who took such loving and excellent care of our parents for these many years.

Memorials may be made to St. Boniface Catholic Church 1820 North “B” street Ft. Smith, AR 72901.