Mary Jo (Vaughn) Owens-Knapp, 89, passed on June 23, 2017 at home in Mesa, Arizona, from complications of COPD. She was born January 27,1928, in Fort Worth, Texas, an only child to T.J. Vaughn and Fannie E. (Reeves) Vaughn. She is survived by her loving family, son, Jim Owens (Lois) and daughter, Irene K. Owens, several grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Wendell Owens and husband, Bernard Knapp, son, Clifford A. Owens and step-son, Gary S. Owens.

She had many music friends including Dave Beatty and family. She had worked for the USDA, Rio Grande National Forest. She liked entertaining and cooking. She especially enjoyed cooking for Thanksgiving for the annual family gathering. She also leaves many friends made throughout her life from living in Texas, Colorado, and Arizona, RV travels, clubs, social internet, crafts, a variety of concerts, music jams, and Native Americans, for which she had a great appreciation of their culture. She enjoyed wearing their turquoise jewelry. She also enjoyed photography. She dearly enjoyed different varieties of music, but her passion was Gospel and cowboy/country. She liked collecting autographs and attending anything connected to country music or the old west. “I not only lived a good life, but a wonderful life, thanks to God.” Jim Ed Brown says it best in his song, “It’s a Good Life.”

She requests no services. Donations may be made to Hospice of The Valley or your choice of charity. Arrangements by “A Wise Choice Funeral Services.”