Obituary of Mary Jo C. McGeehin

Mary Jo Catherine McGeehin, of Glen Mills, PA, passed away on August 8, 2024, after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late James T. McGeehin. Together, they raised four children in Springfield, PA, and Sea Isle City, NJ, before enjoying their retirement at Fox Hill Farms in Glen Mills, PA, and in Venice, FL. Mary Jo was the mother of Melanne, James Jr., Rosemary, and Kathleen, and was “Nana” to 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

Born and raised in Emmaus and Allentown, PA, she was the daughter of Joseph and Rose Spade Gallagher. Mary Jo had two sisters and two brothers. The family’s simple home featured chickens in the yard and mattresses handmade by their patriarch. As a child, Mary Jo pitched in on chores and picked tomatoes to contribute to the household.

As an adult, Mary Jo dabbled in a little bit of everything. Before marrying her husband of 64 years on August 22, 1959, Mary Jo held positions at Air Products (where she met Jim) and Skyline Builders. When her children were young, she was the church organist and choir director. The family were supportive listeners at the 9AM mass at Holy Cross church each week, making sure to point out all of her “clunkers” over breakfast. She would reply with her characteristic “Oh, for heavens sake!”

In the 1980s, Mary Jo discovered a passion for golf.  She was an active member of the women’s golf group at Rolling Green Golf Club.  Mary Jo became a fierce competitor, and participated in tournament play at her home clubs in PA, NC & FL. Over the course of her life, she made a hole-in-one FOUR times! She won her Club Championship & the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Ida Dixon Cup in 1995 & the Effie Derr Robey Cup in 1996. Mary Jo enjoyed hitting the links no matter where she traveled to. She not only relished the competition, but appreciated the lifelong friendships that the sport blessed her with. 

Whatever Mary Jo did, she executed with precision, energy, and more than a dollop of bossiness. Throughout her life, she quilted, cross-stitched, knitted, crocheted, played bridge, led Girl Scouts, drove carpools in her VW bug, attended her children’s sporting events, and cooked many, many meals. She cooked so many meals (including in her state-of-the-art Microwave), that when all the kids had flown the nest, she got a vanity plate reading “NVR COOK.” 

Mary Jo was a master baby whisperer and loved caring for her children and grandchildren when they were babies. She hosted the grandkids in the summers for “Nana camp,” in Sea Isle City, NJ, and in PA. The grandkids promptly got handed off to mom and dad, though, as soon as they developed “Freshy Face.” She also enjoyed doing family genealogy research and was the keeper of the McGeehin family tree for many years. 

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James; her parents; and three siblings: Patricia Leibensperger, John "Jack" Gallagher, and Joseph “Bud”Gallagher. She is survived by her four children: Melanne Caverly, James T. McGeehin Jr. (Adela), Rosemary McGeehin, and Kathleen Reilly (Mark), her sister, Marjorie Eisenman, seven grandchildren: James T. (Wendy) McGeehin III, Matthew McGeehin, Kathleen Strunk (Steve), Claire Caverly, Andrew Caverly, Sophie Reilly, and Lila Reilly, along with two great-grandchildren, Rhys and Rory Strunk.

Services will be on Friday, August 16th at St. Cornelius Church, 160 Ridge Rd, Chadds Ford, PA.  A visitation will take place from 10 AM to 11 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Interment at Media Cemetery, Media, PA, to follow. Donations in Mary Jo’s name can be made to either UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org (http://www.unicefusa.org/)) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org (http://www.stjude.org/)). Online condolences 

may be shared by visiting 

www.paganofuneralhome.com (http://www.paganofuneralhome.com/)