Mary Jo Johnson

After 78 wonderful years, Mary Jo (Spieles) Johnson passed away on August 26, 2025 in Casper, WY surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was welcomed into this world August 1, 1947, by her late parents Earl “Sharky” Spieles and Irene Spieles at St. Anthony Hospital in Denver, CO, though Casper, WY, was the town she was happy to call home most of her life. In 1965 she launched her career at MHNC as a critical care nurse, a field in which she would remain until leaving Wyoming Medical Center in 2012. From there she would go on to work 11 more years at the Casper Surgical Center, which she deemed the best place she had ever worked, until her retirement in 2023. She cherished her time working as a nurse and was greatly fulfilled by being able to help people.

In April of 1967, she welcomed her first son Benjamin, followed by her second son Peter in April of 1968, who sadly preceded her in death. She is survived by Benjamin and his four children, her grandchildren, Alexis, Mitchell, Jacob, and Silas. She is also survived by her three siblings, Pat, Kathy, and Mike, many nieces and nephews, and her best and dearest friend Jeanne Goetzinger.

Mary Jo loved her family and friends more than anything else. It made her happy to get everyone together and make every holiday and gathering warm and special for all. She adored being a grandmother and spending time with her four grandchildren, a steadfast pillar of love and support in their lives through their greatest accomplishments, weakest moments, and everything in between. “Grandma” was the name she liked best. When she wasn’t spending time with her family, the little things brightened her world and made her smile every day. Reading cookbooks and making new recipes to share with her family brought her tremendous joy. She devoured British movie mysteries, Turner Classic Movies, Monk, and anything that made for a good laugh. Listening to the music she loved, from sixties pop to Italian opera, always put a smile on her face. A dedicated cat lover and friend to feline kind throughout her life, she rarely lived without a cat or two by her side. She enjoyed colorful clothes and putting together outfits with all the matching accessories and shoes from her impressive collection. Mary decorated her life with vibrant colors, especially every hue of blue which was her most favorite of all. Few things pleased her more than days when the sky was, “so blue it hurts your eyes.”

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Newcomer Casper Chapel with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made to Central Wyoming Hospice for their dedication and care for Mary.

To share a memory of Mary or leave a special message for the family, please visit the guestbook below.