Mary Johanna "Jo" Thummel

Mary Johanna "Jo" Thummel, age 71, of Cameron, MO, died Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Quail Run in Cameron.

A service to remember and celebrate her life will be Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB officiating. She will be laid to rest in Sugar Creek Cemetery. A visitation will be on Friday evening, Nov. 3rd, beginning at 6:30 and will conclude with a rosary at 7:45 p.m.

Jo was born on January 23, 1952, in Atchison, KS, the daughter of George Harold Betts and Mary Ann (Davenport) Betts. She attended St. Joseph's grade school and graduated from Mount St. Scholastica; she later earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology. She used her education for working with those in need. She was a counselor for at-risk youth at Mount St. Scholastica and then for the State of Missouri in the prison system until her retirement in 2022.

She married James Dixon in 1972 and they were later separated. Jo and Dennis Thummel were married on December 8, 2003, in Atchison, Kansas. They enjoyed camping, traveling and going to concerts when they could. Jo loved nature and taking pictures of nature, listening to different genres of music and she was the only one in her house allowed to cook on the grill! She was dedicated to her catholic faith throughout her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Kimberly Dixon; brothers, Louis and George Betts; step children, Deborah Calhoon, Dennis J. Thummel and Alice Renee Roets; and two grandchildren.

Left to cherish the memories of Jo include her husband, Dennis Thummel; siblings, Paul Betts (Angela) and Regina Hund; nephew, Robert Hund; step children, Robert Boatright (Julie), George Thummel, August Thummel; thirteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.