Mary Jo Metcalfe

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A Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, Walters, OK on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Paul A. Metcalfe officiating under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Walters. 

Mary Joanne Kingsolver Metcalfe, known to friends and family as Mary Jo, as well as Mom, Mother, and Nana Jo was born July 26 1935 in Wenatchee, WA to Lloyd Lester & Myrle Anne Tracy Kingsolver and departed this life for Heaven on June 20, 2024 at the age of 88. 

Her early years were spent on a farm in Wenatchee where she loved riding her horse Blackie and caring for the chickens with her brother Don. She was crowned the Apple Blossom Queen in 1938 in the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. Her family moved to Norwalk, CA in 1940. She attended Excelsior High in Norwalk where she was the president of the school newspaper. She then attended Pasadena City College. She married Rev. John A. Metcalfe on September 4, 1955 in Bellflower, CA.

She was a full-time mother and secretary for John when the kids were younger. She also taught grade school, worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, and worked as a medical records and radiology transcriptionist.

Piano was a passion. She began playing at age 5 and continued playing on the same piano until into her 88th year. She served as church pianist and organist for more than 50 years. She had a distinctive style and could transpose keys on the spot. 

In the 1950’s she performed with John, John’s sister Murial and husband Ralph, in the quartet “The Canaanaires” in Southern California churches, on the radio, and in the Church of Reflections at Knott’s Berry Farm. In the 1980s she performed in the Crescent City Sweet Adelines chorus and the quartet The Mellow Notes.

Mary Jo Served as Missionary President in multiple Nazarene churches throughout California. She was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the Crescent City Church of the Nazarene February, 1991.

She loved working in the medical field, so after 30 years at Sutter Coast Hospital she retired but stayed on as a volunteer for another 19 years. In retirement she also enjoyed travel within the US as well as to New Zealand, Italy, Indonesia, and through the Panama Canal. She loved coffee, her family, and God. She was a prayer warrior faithfully lifting, by name, each family member and countless friends in prayer each morning. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Myrle Kingsolver; her brothers, Don Kingsolver and Bob Kingsolver; and Rev. John A. Metcalfe in August 2003. 

Survivors include her 6 children and their spouses, Lorraine Willis, Miranda, CA, David & Christy Metcalfe, Fort Worth, TX, Ron & Coral Metcalfe, Onalaska, WI, Paul & Lisa Metcalfe, Walters, OK, Jeanine & Murlin Lee, San Jose, CA, Steve & Becky Metcalfe, Tangarang, Indonesia; 14 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends. 

Memorial Donations can be made to the Church of the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, 201 E. Colorado St., Walters, OK 73572.