Mary Jo Morrison

Mary Jo Morrison, 71, of Springfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 12, 2025. She was born on February 18, 1954, in Albany, Georgia to Louis P. and Rosemary D. Ochs. Jo first met John in 1972- and she described it as love at first sight! They married on June 18, 1977, and enjoyed a life full of love, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.

Jo had a light that drew people in immediately, a kindness that made you feel at home, and a laughter that could fill a stadium. She loved her family- including her many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and the various friends (and friends of friends) who met her and immediately became family! Jo lived for live music, so you would regularly catch her singing and dancing at a show. Although her love for Tom Petty was epic and unending, she was not bound by any particular musical genre enjoying bluegrass, rock, blues, and reggae… just to name a few. She loved to travel, driving long distances to visit different mountain chains. Because of her skilled preliminary research, she always knew where to get the most delicious breakfast or locate the tastiest burger, which of the local breweries had the best (well-poured) stout or porter, and always found the most interesting roadside oddities- such as the vacuum cleaner museum, a giant blue whale, a roadrunner made of recycled materials, and slug-bug farm! She was strong- thanks to the 10+ years of doing Pilates with her favorite instructors- and she went down swinging! She will be missed by many, but her spirit will live on in the various lives that she touched.

She is also survived by two daughters: Jessica C. Morrison (Jeff Medley) of Springfield, Illinois and Sarah R. Morrison (Jason W. Irwin) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; five siblings: Pete Ochs (Becky Ochs) of Springfield, Illinois, Bill Ochs (Tori Ochs) of Maineville, Ohio, James Ochs (Gere Ochs) of Kirkwood, Missouri, Maggie Ochs-McIntosh of Bath, Illinois, and Joe Ochs of Springfield, Illinois; and her mother Rosemary D. Ochs of Springfield, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her father (Louis P. Ochs) and in-laws (Donald S. and Celeste R. Morrison).

Private services were held immediately by the family after her passing, and a celebration of life will be planned for friends and family at a later date. The family asks those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to: The Arbor Day Foundation (https://www.arborday.org/donate) or The National Parks Foundation (https://give.nationalparks.org/).