Mary Jo Stalcup

Mary Jo Blackburn Stalcup
3/17/1933-1/22/2020

Mary Jo was born in Denison, TX on March 17, 1933 to Olen and Ruby Blackburn. She had a “spunky” younger sister Ima Jean, whom she remained close to until Ima Jean’s passing last year. In her younger years they moved to San Antonio. Mary often spoke of great memories she had living in San Antonio briefly as a child. After leaving San Antonio, her family moved back to Denison TX and settled there throughout the rest of her childhood. It is there where she met her high school sweetheart Doyle Stalcup. You could often find Doyle and Mary Jo hanging out at Loy Lake as teenagers with all of their friends. Mary Jo and Doyle married on her 18th birthday on March 17, 1951. They started their life together in their hometown of Denison, moved to Fort Worth, Arlington, Hurst and eventually settled down in the small town of Keller in 1966. Mary worked as a telephone operator until the birth of her first child and then became a wonderful homemaker. She was a longtime member of West Fork Presbyterian in Grand Prairie where she played piano. Later after moving, she joined the Keller Presbyterian church where she was involved in the choir and also played piano occasionally for the church services.
She took pride in her four daughters, Diann, Debbie, Denise and Deidra (the four D’s!) She often participated in the PTA for her girls and volunteered later in life for Meals on Wheels. As a family, they often enjoyed their vacations camping with family and friends. This was a favorite pastime of all that spread to her 4 girls (well except Deb) and the 7 grandchildren. Hopefully her 5 great grandkids will continue the wonderful tradition. Spending time in their RV on the lakes of Sam Rayburn and Lake Fork were like spending time at their second home.

Mary Jo (Nana) and Doyle (Tobo) welcomed 7 wonderful grandchildren over the years. She loved babies and kids and would often keep the grandkids for days on end enjoying every minute of them. She enjoyed traveling and would take the grandkids as well. She LOVED her visits from her grandkids and great grandkids. Family was her everything!
Many wonderful memories were made with trips to the Ozarks, Alaska, Arizona, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, California and several cruises as well just to name a few. She enjoyed knitting, quilting, hunting arrowheads, reading, gardening, baking, cooking and loved her long residing neighbors. She was a wonderful cook and baker and her daughters and grandkids carry on most of her delicious recipes. Mary Jo was smart, humorous, strong, poised, adventurous, beautiful, loving and fun. She was not afraid to tell you how she really felt! You would rarely catch Mary Jo without her nails painted and she always carried herself with dignity. Mary Jo enjoyed spending time with her husband, sister and brother in-law with day trips to WinStar.
After a long battle with Alzheimer’s, Mary passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side. She is preceded in death by her parents Olen and Ruby Blackburn, Sister, Ima Jean Brown and husband Frank. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Doyle Stalcup. Daughters: Diann Stalcup and husband Hamen Shorter, Debbie Sypert and husband Doug, Denise Christopher and husband Paul and Deidra Morgan and husband Craig. Grandchildren: Brent Sypert and partner Frank Patranella, Antonio Stanton and wife Madi, Bryan Christopher and wife Emily, Laura Chapman and husband Brent, Matt Stanton, Zach Sypert and wife Meagan and Payne Morgan. Great-Grandchildren: Zoe, Lucy and Dylan Chapman and Fletcher and Beck Christopher. Sister-in-law: Loyce Franklin, Brother-in-law: Royce Clay Stalcup and many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.

Memorial Service will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Monday, January 27, 2020 at Lucas Funeral Home, Keller.