Mary Jo Wehousie Smith – Charleroi
Mary Jo Smith, a woman known for her charming personality, keen sense of fash-ion and dazzling smile, died peacefully Monday night, Oct. 19, 2020, at home. Until the last few days, Mrs. Smith, 82, refused to let the cancer in her body destroy her spirit or stop her from having fun. In between daily treatments, she maintained an active social schedule. She donned a medical mask, refusing to miss activities with family, gatherings with friends or her weekly hair appointment. Mrs. Smith, who grew up in Roscoe, lived her adult life in Speers. It was there that she and her late husband, Don, an executive with Guttman Energy, raised their three children: Reid, Lisa and Susan. Her children’s antics, and the antics of their friends, were a never-ending source of amusement as she drove them around in a green Chevrolet Nova station wagon known as “The Smithmobile.” Even as those young people grew into adults, they made their way to the red-brick home in Speers just to visit Mrs. Smith, also known as “Mare, Mare-Jo or M.J.” Following her 1956 graduation from California Area High School, the then Mary Jo Wehousie took a position briefly with West Penn Power. But by then she had already met Don Smith, who spotted her at the Roscoe Canteen and vowed to make her his bride. The two were married in 1959 and their bond grew stronger over nearly 58 years until his death in 2017. Mrs. Smith also was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Jessie Wehousie; and her daughter Lisa. During the course of her life, Mrs. Smith enjoyed traveling extensively, playing cards and dominoes with friends and shopping. Always shopping! In addition to Reid and Susan, Mrs. Smith is survived by her grandsons, Joshua Stolfer of Highland Park and Tanner Flament at home; her sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Warren Lewis; her in-laws, Reid and Judy Smith; Amy Weinstock; several nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of friends. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at SCHROCK-HOGAN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022. Mrs. Smith was a member of Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, 624 Washington Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Because of Covid restrictions, please go straight to the church. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to the Lisa A. Smith Memorial Fund (3S734), c/o West Virginia Foundation, 1 Waterford Place, 7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.schrock-hogan.com.
