tary—a dream she fulfilled Mary Jo Fox, 87, of Eastland, TX, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2024. Born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1937, to Walter Cecil and Bertha Lorene Jesse, she brought sweetness, kindness, and a touch of silliness to everyone she met. She was the second of four siblings: Johnny Buford (JB), Mary Jo, Jimmy, and Margaret Rose, and their love and bond shaped her remarkable life.
From an early age, Mary Jo excelled academically, making her mark as the most studious of her siblings. She took immense pride in her education, graduating from Eastland High School in 1954, where she was remembered for her sharp mind and her friendly nature. In her high school memory book, she wrote of her dream to become a secreas a dedicated administrative assistant for Lone Star Gas, where she worked until her retirement.
Mary Jo was the embodiment of joy, devotion, and resilience. Her son, Mark Slaughter, was the love of her life, and she was his biggest cheerleader. She meticulously kept every award he received, every report card, and every memory of his accomplishments, a testament to her immense pride and deep love for him. She was also a devoted grandmother, adoring her granddaughters, Lyssa and Ashlyn Slaughter, with boundless love and joy.
She loved her daughter- in-law, Leesa Slaughter- Ledbetter, who was a devoted wife to Mark and is a loving mother to her daughters. She was also cherished by her nephews James Jesse and Terry Rose, along with James’ wife Mary Jesse, her niece Debi Kelly, and Debi’s husband Sam Kelly, and her beloved grand-nieces and nephews: Auston Rose, Preston Rose, Jessica Bean, Jennifer Kelly, Jacob Kelly, Henry Jesse, Anna Jesse, Oliver Jesse, and her great-grand-niece Pearl Bean Mary Jo’s happy, sweet, and kind temperament was matched only by her silly sense of humor. Her faith was unwavering, and she prayed daily for her family while worrying little about herself. Her strength and independence inspired those around her, as did her incredible care and devotion to her siblings. She spoke with them almost daily and attended to each of them during their illnesses, mourning their losses deeply when they passed.
Mary Jo leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and kindness that touched countless lives. She is reunited in eternal peace with her parents, Walter and Bertha Jesse; her son, Mark Slaughter; her siblings, Jimmy Jesse, JB Jesse, and Margaret Rose; and her niece, Tammy Rose.
Funeral services celebrating Mary Jo’s extraordinary life was held on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Eastland, officiated by Rev. Jennifer Davis. Interment followed at Eastland City Cemetery. Mary Jo’s family invites all who loved her to remember her joyful spirit and the warmth she shared with everyone she met.
