Mary Jo Bennett passed away on November 22, 2020 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 84.

She spent her entire life in Tulsa and loved her city.  Mary Jo attended Longfellow Elementary school with a large group of deaf children who have remained friends to this day. Mary Jo was a star student and a very friendly child.  With her braided pigtails and genuine smile, she modeled for stores in Tulsa.  Her name was always in the newspaper!  Mary Jo graduated with the class of 1955 at Central High School of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was always proud of her accomplishments in high school.  She served on several Central High School Reunion committees over the years.

After high school, Mary got her driver's license and began driving a convertible Cadillac! Her brother, Tommy, made sure she had the very best of everything.    Mary Jo had several jobs from first, working at the local stationary shop in Utica Square to working at one of Tulsa's stock market trading companies, writing the stock prices on a huge chalkboard as she received the information. In the late 1960's, she competed and won Miss Deaf Oklahoma.  Mary Jo was the secretary for the Oklahoma Convention for the Deaf and served for several years.  She later worked at the local school for the Deaf teaching and helping with the Deaf children, many of whom she stayed in contact with until the end of her life.  She loved them and always called them "her girls"!

In 1968, she married Lee O'Neal Bennett (Neal).  They were married for 38 years.  They were a great team!  Together they taught Sunday School for the Deaf, served as Presidents of the Tulsa Deaf Lions Club and Tulsa Deaf Women's Lions Club to serve the community of Tulsa.  Later they turned to a new hobby, woodworking.  Together they made beautiful wood items, Neal making them and Mary Jo painting them.  They also made a beautiful cradle and small push rider for the "grandchildren".

One of Mary's favorite things to talk about was her and Neal's two vacations to Hawaii! They also went to Canada with the Lions Clubs and had such a wonderful time.  Mary Jo loved to host parties at her home and everyone loved to be at her home.  It was warm and inviting and always a fun place to be!  She also loved participating in local government and even demanded that she be allowed to be selected for jury duty.  She brought her interpreter and made it through several rounds of choosing, but ultimately was not chosen.  Her story made it to the local newspaper.

After her husband's passing, Mary Jo became involved with the Deaf Senior Citizens of Tulsa.  She enjoyed that very much.  A while later, she became involved with the Tulsa Deaf and Blind group and worked as a volunteer to make items to sell at events to help raise money for the organization.  She also accompanied the group on various field trips.   Mary Jo was a kind, caring, and giving person.  She always made sure everyone was taken care of and happy.  She never forgot a birthday or anniversary and had a great sense of humor when it came to celebrating various holidays!

After she fell and broke her hip in April 2018, she was no longer able to live alone.  In June 2018, Mary Jo moved to Texas to live with Lynne (Cox) Duval and her family.  She had never lived in any other home except her house in Tulsa.  It was quite an adjustment, but also an adventure!  She became involved at the Deaf church in Plano and was a faithful attender.  She always looked forward to church and they were all so lovely to welcome her into the group.  Now, she will be reunited with her family and friends and will be waiting for us to arrive.  She loved the Lord and now she will be with Him eternally!  We are thankful for the life of Mary Jo Bennett and the impact she had on all our lives.  May she now rest in peace in the arms of Jesus!

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her father John McClelland, her mother Irene Williamson, her brother Tommy McClelland, and her husband Lee O'Neal Bennett.  In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to the American Cancer Society, an organization that Mary Jo supported for many years.