Mary Jo Campbell

Mary Jo Bradley Campbell, 88, died July 27, 2009, at her home, after a long faithful life. Services honoring her memory will be Friday, July 31, at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Church of Christ under the direction of Piersall Benton Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St. The family will be available for visitation at 10:30 a.m. preceding the service. Graveside services will be at the Pear Valley Cemetery northwest of Brady, Texas, at 4 p.m.

Mary Jo was born Sept. 12, 1920, at the family home in Coleman, the oldest of three daughters born to C.L. Bradley and Mary Ollie Livingston Bradley. She grew up in Brady and graduated from Brady High School in 1937. She attended San Angelo College for one year then returned to Brady where she worked for the Rural Electrification Administration. In that role she developed a life-long preference for typing and sent typewritten notes of encouragement to family and friends well into her 80s.

Mary Jo was married to Norris C. Campbell of Brady on Nov. 7, 1943.
She loved learning and encouraging her children and grandchildren to learn.
After her older children were grown she returned to the college classroom taking advantage of the three free semester hours she received each semester as a faculty spouse. She earned her college degree from ACU in 1983 at age 62.
Mary Jo also took an ornithology course at Sam Houston State University one summer while Norris was a visiting professor, which continued a lifelong interest in birds. She kept a lifetime bird list and made a special trip to see the Texas bald eagles.
She was a knowledgeable and avid gardener and a former member of Abilene Garden Club. After the Campbells built their home in 1960, she planted her gardens so she would have something blooming every month of the year. Mary Jo often gave daffodil bulbs to friends because she believed they signified a hope for the future. She encouraged tree planting and sometimes purchased a tree for a young couple.

In retirement Norris and Mary Jo stayed at their home in Abilene Monday through Thursday of each week, then spent long weekends at the family farm at Pear Valley. For many years, they attended church at both the Brady and Highway 36 congregations of the Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister Betty Kirklin, and one grandson, Bradley Campbell Rotenberry.
Mary Jo is survived by five sons and a daughter and their families:
Bruce and his wife Francine of Eula, James and his wife Kathy of San Antonio, Don and his wife Carol of Flower Mound, Liz Rotenberry and her husband Paul of Abilene, Paul of League City, and Robert and his wife Jean of Abilene.
She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, along with one sister, Pat Pamplin and her husband Leonard of Abilene, and by many other relatives and dear friends. Toward the end of her life, Mary Jo had enjoyed regular attendance at both the University and Hamby churches of Christ along with her children.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Abilene Christian Schools, 2550 North Judge Ely Blvd., Abilene, TX. 79601 in memory of Mary Jo Campbell.