Mary Jo Wilcoxson

On Wednesday November 10th Mary Jo Wilcoxson peacefully passed away surrounded by her family. Although we miss her very much already, her spirit and testimony will continue to be a light to all who knew her.

Mary Jo was born to Joseph and Pauline Renai in Wilmington Delaware on September 9, 1950. She was raised in Wilmington and was the oldest of 6. She graduated from Conrad High School and received her Bachelors at the University of Delaware. She met her sweetheart Robert during high school and they were married in 1972. Years later they met missionaries who taught them the gospel and they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On November 27,1981 they were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple for time and all eternity. They settled in Layton, Utah in 1984 where they raised their 3 children.

Mary Jo lived a life of faith and service. She truly loved the Lord and his gospel and held many callings in His church including Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society Presidency, Primary President, Gospel Doctrine Teacher and Sunday School Teacher, with her favorite teaching Course 13.

She often said her favorite people are teenagers and influenced thousands of them through her 26 years of teaching English at Central Davis Junior High and North Layton Junior High. She LOVED teaching and learning. To better serve her students she went back to school and received her Master’s in English Education in 2006. To many in the Jr High she was known as Coach Wil, as she truly connected with her students and strove to teach them more than just English. She was available to her students after hours, in the grocery stores, and around town and always made time for them. Reluctantly she retired in 2020 but continued to be an influence in the lives of many more.

She is survived by her loving husband Robert of 49 years, her three children, Katie(Thomas), Danny(Morgan) and Laura. She is the proud grandmother of 9 grandkids, Joe(17), Sam(13), Mark(11), Ronni(10), Ben(9), Lane(8), James (7), Grace(4) and Hendrix(3).

In lieu of a funeral service, flowers or the above links, she asked that each of us take
our loved ones out for a nice dinner “not lunch, it has to be dinner.”

If you would like to leave a memory you have with Mary Jo in the comment section below, they will be compiled into a book for her family to cherish. We’ve also created a blog on her behalf and will be posting periodically many of her talks, her conversion story and her testimony for those that would like to read it. https://maryjowilcoxson.blogspot.com

As we think of the greater work she is now doing, let us remember a favorite quote she has in her home:

“Be cheerful in all that you do. Live Joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.”

-Ezra Taft Benson