PIERCETON – Mary Jo Valentine, 85, of Key Largo, Fla., formerly of Pierceton, passed away at 7:05 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in her residence.
She was born on June 8, 1933, to Henry and Beulah Osborne Ratliff in Lauratown Ark. She graduated from Sloan-Hendrix High School in Imboden, Ark.
She was united in marriage on Jan. 5, 1952, to Richard L. Valentine in the North Winona Church of the Brethren, Warsaw.
Mary Jo has lived in the Pierceton area for 70 years, spending the last 30 years in Key Largo.
She has worked for Key Mart Drugstore in Pierceton for many years and retired 1988 from Kmart, Warsaw, as a human resource manager.
Mary enjoyed reading books, doing genealogy, and playing bridge, pinochle and bocce. She also followed politics, and loved to watch “Judge Judy” and the “Morning Joe” show. Her words that she lived by: “I did it my way.”
Mary Jo is survived by her children: David (Cathleen) Valentine of Ben Lomond, Calif.; Michelle Valentine of Warsaw; Melissa (Mike Morelly) McKelvey of Miami, Fla.; and Alex Valentine of Pierceton; a sister, Julia Smith of Fortville; grandchildren: Julie (Zach) Winsett, Jeremy and Alexa McKelvey, Justin Rees and Jerrod Turpen; and greatgrandchildren: Aliyah, Roman and Waylon Turpen; Sadie and Sawyer Winsett; and Braxton McKelvey.
She was preceded by her parents; a son, Jay Valentine; her husband, Richard Valentine (2003); and two brothers, James and Jack Ratliff.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Pierceton.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, (Valentine’s Day) at the funeral chapel in Pierceton. Pastor Jamy Gregory will officiate the services.
Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Pierceton.
