Born June 12, 1949 to Joseph and Eleanor Meyd she grew up in Academy Heights where she also raised her own family before moving to Oak Forest in Catonsville. She attended St. Agnes Grade School and went on to the Institute of Notre Dame, Baltimore where she excelled in sports, especially basketball. Years later she maintained her life-long friendship with her ‘IND girls’. She spent her high school summers as a camp counselor at St Vincent DePaul, a special place to her parents and an experience she would lovingly remember all her days. She met Army ILT Ron Smith after a basketball game simply known at IND as “The Game”; they married in 1969 settling in a home a few blocks from her own childhood home. There she raised her children, Bryan, Megan and Kerri. As her children attended St. Agnes School, Mary Jo became active in the Home School Association eventually serving as President. Fund raisers, activities, school functions, church fairs and parish council meetings were fully integrated into her busy family life. Eventually the family outgrew their home and they moved to Oak Forest in Catonsville. About that time Jo began a new career in real estate establishing herself as a trusted realtor; no one knew the area better than Jo.
Mary Jo’s interests were broad; she became a Funeral Director Assistant at Sterling Ashton in Catonsville and returned to college attending Notre Dame of Maryland where she completed her studies and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She volunteered as a grief counselor at Howard County Gilcrist -a role she cherished. Her compassion brought her to the shores of Haiti where she helped build schools and serve the dying. Throughout her life, Mary Jo’s love for animals would open the door to many dogs and various pets including a beloved bunny. There was always music in the air-CD cases stacked feet high- from Neil Diamond to Lady Gaga, John Denver to Jimmy Buffet and the Indigo Girls-she had an eclectic taste in music which her children readily acquired.
She loved the beach; staying at The Fins during the summer weeks with her children was all she ever needed. She loved to ski and horseback ride at her vacation home in Canaan Valley. Her trips with Ron carried them around the world by air and by sea; Rome, Venice, Ireland, France, Monte Carlo, Portugal and Spain. Not to be forgotten were her trips to Sonoma, Colorado, Hawaii and Alaska.
One of Mary Jo’s favorite trips was the yearly trek to Frederick Rd for the 4th of July parade and to Catonsville High School for the fireworks. Oh how she loved the annual July 4th family gathering at her home.
Her three children brought her an unsurpassed gift of six loving grandchildren- Ellie, Colin, Lilly, Cameron, Lennon and Eli who affectionately call her MiMi- they were her joy.
In the latter years of her life, Mary Jo was diagnosed with Posterior Cortical Atrophy. She faced her disease bravely with the loving support of her husband, children, family and friends. She succumbed peacefully and entered into her next life on the wings of those who love her.
Mary Jo is survived by her beloved husband Ronald J. Smith; devoted children Bryan Smith and his wife Sarah, Megan Downs and her husband John, Kerri Kreisel and her husband Shawn; dear siblings David Meyd, Kevin Meyd and his wife Patti, Tim Meyd and his wife Karen and loving grandchildren Ellie, Colin, Lilly, Cameron, Lennon and Eli.
A Private Service will be held at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church with interment in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date.
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