Mary Jo McEntire Gandee, 87, passed away Thursday, the 24th of April, 2014 at home. A native Tulsan, Mary Jo was born October 14, 1926 at the family home located at 14th and South Galveston. She was the youngest of three daughters of Judson and Carrie McEntire. She attended Riverview Elementary, Horace Mann Junior High, and graduated from Central High School in 1944. Mary Jo graduated from Oklahoma A&M College (now OSU) in 1948 with triple majors in business, economics, and journalism. While there, she joined the Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and served as chapter president. She remained active with the sorority throughout her life and on April 4th of this year, Mary Jo was named as the Alpha Delta Pi honoree at the Tulsa Area Alumnae Panhellenic Woman of the Year luncheon.

After graduation , she put her education to use writing commercials at KOME radio. After uniting in marriage to Irvine Edwin Gandee on February 18, 1951, she made raising her four children her priority. After all four children graduated from college, she enjoyed many years assisting customers at Calico Corners fabric store. Her family remembers her for her 1964 Volkswagen bus, knitting Christmas stockings for three generations of family members (even some pets!), hundreds of hot rolls baked for family gatherings over the years, and Saturday night gatherings at the family home. Mary Jo was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Tulsa, with many years of service in the Cradle Roll Department, the food pantry, Meals on Wheels, and was well-known as the "elevator lady".

Mary Jo was predeceased by her parents Carrie and Judson McEntire; her sisters Helen Bernice Hedge and Virginia Ann Copeland-Smith; her eldest daughter Denise Marie; and her husband of 59 years, Irvine Edwin . She is survived by her son Tom and his wife Cheryl of Jacksonville, FL; daughter Celia of Tulsa; daughter Martha and husband Steve Larry of Catoosa; grandson Joseph Gandee of Boca Raton, FL; and sister-in-law Edra and husband Bill Edwards of Horseshoe Bay, TX.

Visitation will be 4-6 P.M., Monday, April 28, 2014 at Moore's Southlawn. Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at First Baptist Church-Tulsa. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

If you would like to honor Mary Jo's life with a donation, please consider the Osage Hills component of Meals On Wheels, 12620 E. 31st, Tulsa, OK 74146 or the charity of your choice.

Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com