Mary Josephine Stasell (Mary Jo) passed away
peacefully on June 25th, 2020 in Arroyo Grande, CA.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl Guthrie
and Mary McCallister; her husband of 58 years,
Robert Hamrin Stasell; and her grandson Robert
“Bobby” James Stasell.
She is survived by her loving family, including son
Jeffrey Robert Stasell; daughter-in-love Katie Stasell;
grandson Jeffrey Ryan Stasell and wife Kelly Stasell;
great-grandchildren Jack Ryan Stasell and Stevie Elle
Stasell; and many dear friends in Akron and
California.
Mary Jo was born in Marion County, Ohio on March 18th, 1927.
She spent her formative years in rural
Marion County, where she loved her horses and
lambs. Father Earl raised grand champion sheep,
Arabian horses and quarter horses in Ohio and
Scotland. She attended Ohio State University, where
she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism.
While at Ohio State, she began her career in
journalism, hosting a late-night radio show on
WOSU, the “Candy Cane Show”. Mary Jo was a
pioneer as a young woman in radio and newspaper
journalism. She worked in various journalist,
broadcaster, editor, and supervisory positions at
WOSU in Columbus, WAKR in Akron, the
Columbus Dispatch, and the Champaign-Urbana
News-Gazette.
Mary Jo and Bob were married on August 27th, 1950,
and embarked on their journey for Bob to finish his
education in Mechanical Engineering and
Agricultural Engineering at the University of Illinois.
Upon graduation, they moved to Akron, Ohio as Bob
started his career at Firestone, then later Goodyear
Tire & Rubber, fulfilling various engineering and
management positions until his retirement in 1985.
The Ohio State vs. Illinois rivalry in the home
brought many great memories with family and
friends. Mary Jo enjoyed professional and
philanthropic endeavors throughout her full and
wonderful life. She served on countless Boards and
charitable positions; among them the Women’s
Auxiliary Board of Summit County Children
Services; Akron Symphony Guild; Coach House
Theater Board; Tuesday Musical Board, the
Women’s Committee of the University of Akron, and
more. She cherished her Scottish heritage, and was a
member of the Mayflower Society and Daughters of
the American Revolution (DAR).
Bob and Mary Jo created many cherished memories
and friendships through memberships at Akron
Women’s City Club (AWCC), Fairlawn Country
Club, and Turkeyfoot Island Club. In 2019, Mary Jo
was honored as the longest standing member at
Turkeyfoot, over 55 years! She and Bob greatly
enjoyed travelling, and organized trips through the
AWCC in partnership with her dear friends at Chima
Travel. Mary Jo and Bob visited over 90 different
countries abroad and she led semi-annual Broadway
trips to New York City for over 35 years.
Mary Jo Stasell’s life was full and rich. Her love of
family and friends, charitable nature, strong resolve
in all things, and zest for experiencing life was
cherished by all who knew her.
Burial for Mrs. Stasell will be private at the Rose Hill Burial Park in Akron, Ohio
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