Mary Jo Curtis

Mary Jo Curtis, 89, of Laurel, Nebraska died on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at the Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel, Nebraska. A memorial service for Mary Jo will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the United Presbyterian Church of Laurel; Rev. Stephen W. Deines will be officiating. A memorial service will also be held on Friday, August 14, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the United Church of Christ in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Mary Jo Catterson, Curtis, only living daughter of Emmett and Ollie (Kirkwood) Catterson, was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 5, 1920. She passed away August 5, 2009 at the Hillcrest Care Center, Laurel Nebraska. Mary Jo attended a country grade school south of Bassett, where her parents ranched. She moved to Broken Bow, Nebraska in 1933 where her father was Assistant County Agent. The family moved to Ainsworth in 1934 where her father was County Agent for the KBR area and her mother helped to organize the first Home Extension Clubs. After graduating from Ainsworth High School in 1937, she attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, University of South Dakota, and the University of Nebraska, Kearney. She graduated from UN-Kearney with a BS degree in Education and English. During this time she taught at Wheeler County High, Ainsworth High, the McAndrew Grade School, Long Pine High School and Keyapaha County High School. After retiring from teaching she substituted in area schools. Mary Jo also worked with her daughter in her flower shop and was Activity Coordinator at the nursing home in Ainsworth. During World War II she was employed by Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California as Personnel Director. She was married to Raleigh Hebert in 1942 and a daughter, Jeannia Jo, was born in Shenandoah, Iowa on August 8, 1943. This marriage ended in divorce. On May 29, 1949, Mary Jo was united in marriage to Wallace Curtis of Tecumseh, Nebraska in the Ainsworth United Church of Christ. Wally adopted Jeannia in 1950. They made their home in Ainsworth. Wally passed away on March 15, 1999. Mary Jo was an avid horsewoman who organized the Middle of Nowhere Trail Ride in 1988. This was continued each year for the next 10 years. She was a Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, held many offices in the UCC Church, was a member of the Ainsworth Does, and Chairman of the Sellors Barton Museum for many years. She was instrumental in the building of the new addition to the museum. Mary Jo was a member of the Ainsworth Travel and Tourism and the Ainsworth Lodging Tax Committees. In 1990 she was chosen Senior Citizen of the year by the Ainsworth Chamber of Commerce and in 1993 was chosen Citizen of the Year by the BPOE # 1790. Mary Jo volunteered many hours with 4-H clubs, her church, and the Chamber of Commerce. In August of 2000, when she was 80 years old, Mary Jo decided to move to Laurel, Nebraska, so she could be near her family. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Laurel. Mary Jo purchased a new home and again devoted her creative talents to decorating her home and raising a garden and flower bed. The day after she moved in she applied for a job with R Way, a psychiatric rehabilitation service provider in Wayne, NE. Mary Jo, at 80 years old, started a new career. Over the next nine years, she helped in many different departments but the last several years she worked to develop the cognitive skills of the consumers. She loved them and they loved her in return. Her nine year anniversary with R Way was August 4th. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Wally, her brother, Jim Catterson, and son-in-law, Mark Nyberg. She is survived by her daughter and husband, Jeannia and Rod Bressler of Laurel, her granddaughter, Michelle Carlson, Winside, grandson, Gary (Bridget) Bottger, Laurel, great grandchildren, Donya (Matt) Topp, Pilger; Justin Tullberg, Emerson; Brock Carlson, Winside; and Jade Bottger, Laurel, her beloved dogs, Bailey and Blondie, R Way staff and consumers. Memorials in her memory, at her request, may be sent to R Way, 219 Main, Wayne, NE. 68787