Mary Jo Underwood of Brownwood died peacefully on August 27, 2016 at the age of 76. Memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 31 at First Baptist Church Brownwood with Dr. Rodney McGlothlin officiating. Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 30 at Heartland Funeral Home in Early.
Mary Jo Underwood was born on December 21, 1939 in Brownwood to William (Bill) and Frances Lorene Smith. To know Mary Jo Underwood was to know a woman who was always willing to go the extra mile for her friends and family, as those who were ever on the receiving end of this generous spirit can surely attest. Mary Jo developed a deep love for music from her father who was a member of the post-World War I band, The Old Gray Mare Band in Brownwood. She honed her skills on the violin as a member of the Brownwood High (class of 1958) orchestra and later would volunteer her talents in countless community musicals and orchestras. Mary Jo was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Brownwood since cradle roll. She sang in the sanctuary choir and considered the time amongst her fellow altos as some of her most cherished. She was a woman of unshakable faith who would often turn to her piano and Baptist Hymnal for strength in times of distress. “How Great Thou Art” and “It Is Well With My Soul” were two of her personal favorites.
Family history, particularly recognizing the many hardships faced by her ancestors, took on a unique fascination for Mary Jo later in life. She painstakingly traced her lineage all the way back to the American Revolution and in 1986 became a member of the Mary Garland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2003, she was instrumental in the process of naming a section of Carnegie Street in Brownwood for her great uncle, Brooke Smith, who opened the first store and bank in Brownwood in 1876. For all of these efforts, her surviving family members are eternally grateful.
Above all else, Mary Jo Underwood loved her family. She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 55 years, Leonard Underwood. She is also survived by her sons, Leo Underwood with wife Lisa of Brownwood and their children Tres and Libby; Paul Underwood with wife Jill and their children Sarah and Meredith. It cannot be stressed enough the abundant joy she experienced loving and nurturing four grandchildren over these past few decades. Mary Jo grew up as the second oldest of four Smith sisters. She is survived by sisters Barbara Grooms and her husband Dwayne of Brownwood, Glynda Phelps of Collinsville, OK, and Karen Listi and her husband Sam of Belton.
Lastly, Mary Jo attended Howard Payne University and possessed a deep love for her hometown college. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Mary Jo Underwood Endowed Scholarship Fund at Howard Payne, P.O. Box 2369, Brownwood, 76804-2369.
Condolences, memories and tributes can be shared with the family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.