Mary Jo Hartwell, 84, of Parsons died at 4:57 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor.

She was born Nov. 12, 1926, at Humboldt the youngest of eight children born to Milton B. and Nellie (Miller) Allen. Her early years were spent in Humboldt and Iola and she graduated from Iola High School.

She came to Parsons to work at the Kansas Ordnance Plant.

She married Eugene E. “Buck” Hartwell on May 19, 1946, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Parsons. She assisted her husband in the Hartwell Constructon Co. from 1946 until their retirement in 1987. Mr. Hartwell preceded her in death on Dec. 24, 2009.

Mrs. Hartwell was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and its Altar Society. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She was an excellent pie maker and her primary interests were her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include four daughters, Carol Forbes and her husband, Jim, Mary Pat Paschetti, Connie Lyons, all of Parsons, and Julie Hartwell of Joplin; nine grandchildren, Dan Forbes of Erie, Chris O’Connor of Lenexa, Frankie Forbes of Kansas City, Mo., Jennifer Billington of Wichita, Lorry Pichler of Pittsburg, Matthew Billington, Lynzi Lyons, Emily Westhoff, Rylee Hartwell, all of Joplin, and Joshua Lyons of Springfield, Mo.; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters.

The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the rosary.

Memorials are suggested to either Operation Smile or the St. Patrick’s School Endowment. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.