Mary Escobedo

Mary Jo was born to ranch owners Jose B. and Teresa M. Garcia in San Jose, Arizona. She attended Solomonville schools and graduated from Safford High School in 1945. Making the decision to study Cosmetology, she lived with her Aunt and Uncle and cousins while attending Weaver School of Beauty Culture where she earned her certificate and beauty operator license. After graduating, she worked in Phoenix, later on deciding to return to live with her parents since they had moved to Safford, AZ. As an entrepreneur, she owned a beauty salon business above the Corner Pharmacy with another beauty operator where she enjoyed her work with clients from the Safford area. While back in Safford, she met the love of her life, Julio Escobedo, Jr., with whom she was married five days shy of their 57th wedding anniversary. They were married at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on August 18, 1950. The young couple then moved to married student housing on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona where she continued her chosen career as a licensed Cosmetologist. She continued her work until just shortly prior to her first childs birth in 1951, daughter, Carla Jean. Upon her husbands graduation with a Masters Degree in Education, the young family moved to Stockton, California where Julio was able to obtain employment with Stockton Unified School District as one of the first Hispanic teachers. Mary Jo then continued to nurture, care, raise and love her growing family of a daughter, Dee Anna, born in 1954 and a son, Jon Julio, born in 1956. She was a member of Faculty Wives due to her husbands employment as well as a founding member of the Sewing Club in Mayfair, the Stockton area where they purchased their new home on Longview Avenue. Mary Jo, Julio and their children then moved to the South American country of Ecuador where they lived in Quito and Guayaquil from 1957 to 1962, as her husband was recruited to an Education Post with the American Consulate where he worked as an Educational Advisor with the Agency for International Development. Her husbands work included the Peace Corps Volunteers, some of which would stay as well as visit the family home where Mary Jo hosted several of the youthful Peace Corp volunteers. Mary Jo would often reminisce about the official duties she attended with her husband throughout Ecuador as well as official dinners at the American Consulate. She became a very special friend to an Ecuadorian family, with two daughters, which visited over the years in Stockton after the completion of the tour of duty in Ecuador when the family returned to their home in Stockton. Mary Jo was a devoted and most supportive wife, in her consistent gentle and calm manner showering love upon her family always with an eye for fashion and a special gift of instruction any teacher would admire. She was called upon to substitute in Ecuador in an elementary school for which she received a letter of gratitude from the School Principal stating her excellent work with the children, as they often asked for her after her temporary substitute assignment was completed. Upon their return to the United States, Mary Jo continued to be involved with Faculty Wives as well as the Sewing Club in Mayfair again, however, the times were changing and as her children were growing up, she became a Den Mother for Boy Scouts of America. In 1966 her youngest daughter, Julie Teresa was born, who was a delight for her, as her own mother had passed away shortly before her birth. Mary Jo served as a juror for the County of San Joaquin for several trials in which she often stated she enjoyed and had pride in serving within our legal system. Mary Jo completed the Catholic Church Cursillo program which deepened her faith even more than her inherent faith. Both Mary Jo and Julio with their family were parishioners at St. Lukes Catholic Church while living in the Mayfair area of Stockton and later at St. Edwards Catholic Church when they moved to the countryside in the outskirts of East Stockton. Mary Jo was a proud mother of her son, Jon Julio, when he pinned a Mothers Pin on her at his Eagle Scout ceremony at John Adams Elementary School Multipurpose Room with Senator John Garamendi in attendance. Mary Jo, with her husband Julio Escobedo, Jr., were both very proud of the Bachelors Degree which all four of their children received. Mary Jo was an elegant, intelligent and diplomatic woman with many fine skills such as sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting. Over the years she was industrious as a homemaker sewing clothing for the entire family including her husbands various shirts. She taught her daughters by example how to use a sewing machine and adjusting patterns as well as altering the garment for the final fit of a garment. Her daughter Dee Anna is always very proud that her mom sewed her senior year high school prom dress. Her daughter Carla Jean fondly recalls making a bridesmaids dress as a member of the bridal party for a college roommates wedding however, as the date was quickly approaching, at the last minute her mother, Mary Jo helped her complete the very wide circular hem of the lining and dress. Over their entire marriage, her husband, Julio never had anyone but his wife, Mary Jo, trim, cut and style his hair. For many years her son Jon as well as all three daughters had their hair also, cut and styled by their talented mother. Needless to say, as a supportive wife and mother, she was indeed a home economist, assisting her husband to raise four children to complete their college educations and see each of them graduate on only one salary. There were many times that Mary Jo was a hostess offering her home to family and friends due to the many events related to her husbands professional and community activities. Friends, family and guests always appreciated her hospitality, graciousness and kindness. Mary Jo was the last surviving sibling of a family of seven, one brother and six sisters. Mary Jo is survived by her many loving and kind nieces and nephews; her daughter Carla Jean; and son Jon Julio who lived with and cared for her at her home in Stockton; Dee Anna Escobedo and her husband, Steven Corday of Auburn, Washington; and Julie Teresa (Jason) Gunby of Phoenix, Arizona and her precious granddaughter, Olivia Juliet. Visitation will be held at DeYoung Memorial Chapel, 601 North California Street, Stockton, CA 95202 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Rosary will be held at 5:00 p.m. led by Fr. John Armistead of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton. Telephone number 209-466-8075. Viewing and visitation will be held in Arizona on Monday, April 21, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Caldwell Funeral Chapel, 112 East Main Street, Safford, Arizona 85546, telephone number 928-428-1740. Rosary will be on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 311 South Central Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546. Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Safford City Cemetery, Discovery Park Boulevard, Safford, Arizona 85546.