Mary Jo Speight

Mary Jo Mans Speight passed away peacefully into her Father's hands on Thursday, November 26, 2009. Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Monday, November 30 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Azle. Interment: will be at Sonora Cemetery in Fairlie at 4:00 P.M. Visitation: 6 to 8 P.M. Sunday at White's Azle Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial to the American Cancer Society, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Azle Memorial Library or to a charitable organization of your choice. Pallbearers for the service will be provided by the Men's Club of Holy Trinity. Jo was born in Grass Range, Montana on July 13, 1931 to Florence Malta (Plouffe) Mans and Gustave Elmer Mans. The family soon moved to Great Falls, Montana where Mary Jo was a 1949 honors graduate of Great Falls High School. She enjoyed her work in banking until she met and married her husband, Raymond Ray "Sam" Speight in 1951. Together they traveled in the Air Force between Montana, Texas and Alaska as they raised a family. At his retirement with 31 years in 1979, they settled in Azle. Jo enjoyed spending time planning and tending her flower beds in the beautiful yard that they maintained together. Jo was also active in her church parish and spent many years helping to maintain the landscaping at Holy Trinity. She was honored for her work to promote early childhood literacy by the local schools, newspapers and by her church. Her church community and close neighbors were an important and supportive force in her life. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Raymond Ray Speight. Survivors include her children, Raymond G. Speight and wife, Cindy of Okinawa, Japan; Barbara Hilbert and husband, Don of Seguin; Stephen Speight and wife, Betty of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; grandchildren, Stefan Hilbert and wife, Jamie of Roundrock, Daniel Hilbert of Kingsville, April Smith, Angrielle Phillips and Anthony Brown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; great-grandchildren, Rayvon and Brooklyn Smith of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; other suvivors include, Virgie Speight of Wolfe City, Rogene Swinson and husband, Louis of Fairlie, Mertie Lou Cherry and husband, Roy of Fort Worth, B. B. Fulfer and wife, Dorothy of Azle and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.