Mary Jo Hahn

Mary Jo Steed Hahn, 85, of Richardson, Texas, slipped peacefully from this world into the arms of Jesus on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Carrollton Regional Medical Center in Carrollton, Texas, after having been diagnosed with cancer the previous month.

Mary Jo was born February 19, 1940, in Gilmer, Texas, to Joe Weldon and Lillie Dora Fielder Steed. In 1944, her family moved to Mount Pleasant, Texas, where she and her younger sister, Martha, grew up. After graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in 1958, Mary Jo attended East Texas State College (now East Texas A&M University) in Commerce to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

She began her teaching career in Tyler, Texas, as a third-grade teacher, but realizing her desire to help instill her deep love of reading in others, decided to pursue a master’s degree in Library Science from ETSC and spent the remainder of her career as an elementary librarian. She touched the lives of countless children as an educator for a total of 40 years at Orr Elementary in Tyler and White Rock Elementary, Spring Valley Elementary, Springridge Elementary, and Canyon Creek Elementary in Richardson, until her well-earned retirement in 2003.

In retirement, she spent her time working in the church library, singing in the church choir, volunteering through Beach Club (an after-school elementary Bible club), and of course, reading and traveling. In 2018, she was honored to travel to New York City with the church choir to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Mary Jo was also very involved in her local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (professional honor society for women educators) and Richardson Woman’s Club (which promotes the individual skills, interests and activities of its members through civic, social, cultural and philanthropic activities), was a member of RRTA (Richardson Retired Teachers Association), TRS (Teacher Retirement System) and was a life member of TSTA (Texas State Teachers Association).

Mary Jo met David Martin Hahn in 1969 in Dallas, Texas, and they were married on December 23, 1972, at First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant. They built a wonderful life together in Richardson, Texas, sharing a love of travel and simply spending time with each other. They truly were best friends.

They welcomed their son, Mark David, in 1974 and their daughter, Amy Elizabeth, in 1977, fulfilling another calling for Mary Jo’s life, the role of mother. She was a doting mother and wife, caring for her family deeply and tirelessly.

Probably her most treasured role of all was that of “Nana” to her three beautiful grandchildren. Not surprisingly, they have countless treasured memories of being read to by their Nana. They also cherish memories of the vacations on which she and “Pop” took them.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Lillie, and her sister Martha. She is survived by her husband, David, son Mark, daughter and son-in-law Amy and Jason Tennison of Cleburne, Texas, grandchildren, Maryn, Carter, and Ellie Tennison, sisters-in law Doris Caudill and Carole Loewen, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held for Mary Jo in The Heights Church, 201 W. Renner Road, Richardson, TX 75080, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the Hahn family kindly requests that donations be made in honor of Mary Jo to Carolyn Bukhair Elementary School, the Richardson Public Library, or a charity of your choice. For donations to Bukhair Elementary, please make checks payable to The Heights Church with “Bukhair” written in the memo line. Contributions to the Richardson Public Library can be made through the link provided below. Your support of these meaningful causes is deeply appreciated.