Marie "Jo" Josephine Gately

Born on April 8, 1932 in Little Eaton, Darby, United Kingdom, Jo was the daughter of Vincent Humphrey Gately and Sarah Traynor Gately.

Jo graduated from Darby High School in 1951 and went on to earn her B.Sc. in Social Sciences from the University of Keele. After a stint of working as a social worker in Darby, Jo received a graduate certificate at the London School of Economics before sailing to Canada in 1961 on the Empress of Britain ship under the auspices of the Overseas Settlement of British Women program. Jo worked as a social worker in Toronto until she was admitted into the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Smith College in Northampton, MA where she met her longtime companion, Jane Coffee. Upon graduating with her MSW, Jo moved to Cincinnati, OH, where she had a successful career as a psychiatric social worker. She also became a US citizen.

After retiring in 1992, Jo was active in a number of activities, including Scottish dancing, community theatre, poetry and play reading, yoga and genealogy. Through genealogy, Jo found cousins in Ireland and stayed connected to them throughout her life. Jo taught courses on immigration to the Cincinnati area through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) until 2018. In Cincinnati Jo was a member of Calvary Presbyterian Church and Cincinnati Friends Meeting – her faith was very important to her.

She and Jane shared a home for almost 50 years in the Mariemont section of Cincinnati. During their work years both were active in community programs, such as Habitat for Humanity and assumed leadership roles for several years. The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati (WACC) was a local organization in which they became very active--for five years they put on an English Afternoon Tea, as a fundraiser, for up to 170 guests. In addition to these activities, together they cared for numerous rescue dogs (Sounder, Pia, Caper, Pax & Morgan, among others). They often entertained and even had cards printed up: Coffee & Jo, Bold and Enterprising. That they were!

Jo loved to travel. She and Jane traveled all over the US as well as to the Netherlands, Belgium, England, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Wales and, on her own, to Australia. Jo’s favorite vacation spot was Cornwall, in England. On one memorable occasion they rented a Georgian manor in County Cork, Ireland and invited family and friends to join them.

Jo was always interested in meeting new people and making connections. During her years in Ohio she was easily adopted into Jane’s extended Coffee family and together they often put on teas for Jane’s mother, her cousins and their families. She remained connected to her Coffee family throughout her life.

Following Jane’s passing in 2021, Jo embarked upon an entirely new life, moving to Greensboro, NC and becoming a part of the Friends Homes community. There she participated in play reading, poetry reading and writing, organized a weekly Chronology game night, served on various committees and attended Vespers, Meditation and other events regularly. Throughout Jo’s life, she was a voracious reader, especially of mysteries, although she had a broad interest in literature. But she did love her Jane Austin! Early in 2026 Jo became a member of Friendship Friends Meeting after regularly attending for several years.

Remaining to cherish Jo’s memory are dear nieces Laura Coffee and Kathryn Larson and their children Catherine and Benjamin Coffee, nephew Nick Gately, spouse Barbara and daughter Emma, and many other friends and family who touched Jo throughout her life. Jo always liked to say she “collected” nieces and nephews wherever she went!

Preceding Jo in death are her dear friend, Jane Coffee, her parents, and siblings Bernard, Nora and John Gately.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on July 12, 2026 at 2 pm in the Friends Homes Woolman Living Room. If desired, memorials may be directed to Save the Animals Foundation, 4011 Red Bank Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45227; or Friends Homes Guilford, 925 New Garden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410 (please designate New Trail Fund). Please note, In Memory of Jo Gately in the memo.

Jo's Celebration of Life Service will be available via live stream on our website.