Mary Jo (Theile) Merkley, 72, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at Kirksville Manor Care Center.

The daughter of Louis F. and Veronica Alberta (Basch) Theile, Mary Jo was born August 13, 1945 in Louisville, KY. On May 9, 1970 in Jasper, Indiana, Mary Jo was united in marriage to John Merkley.

Mary Jo is survived by her husband John of forty-seven years; one daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Robert Moots of Kirksville, MO; one brother, Joseph Theile of Columbus, IN; three grandchildren, Brenna Newberry and husband Cody, Colton Moots, and Veronica Moots; one great-grandson, Landon, as well as several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Mary Jo was a graduate from Jasper High School in Jasper, Indiana, with the Class of 1963. Mary Jo was employed for Kimball Piano Company in Jasper, IN. She resided a number of years in Columbus, Indiana until moving to the Kirksville area to make her home in 2002.

Mary Jo loved reading and time spent with her family.

She was a member of the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church of Kirksville.

Public visitation will be held Friday, September 1, 2017, with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Monsignor David Cox presiding. Interment will follow at Mary Immaculate Catholic Cemetery in Kirksville.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mary Jo may be made to Hospice of Northeast Missouri. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.