On Friday, July 3, 2010, Mary Jo Sewell went to be with her father in heaven. She was born Marian Joyce Hamilton on Sept. 10, 1928, in Freeport, Ill. When she was a young girl, her family moved to Omaha, Neb. She graduated from Duchesne College in Omaha in 1951, where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. After graduating, she taught school for a year and then found her home in Sun Valley. She was an excellent skier and met her husband, Rip, on the mountain. She loved the outdoors, she loved dancing and she loved Sun Valley.
In 1957 Mary Jo and Rip moved to Bellevue, Wash., where their children were born. In 1970 she returned to Sun Valley with her family
Mary Jo was active in her church and loved our Lady of the Snows, where she sang in the choir. She volunteered in several organizations including the Gold Mine and Meals on Wheels. She played tennis and golf, skied and learned to windsurf when she was in her 50s. She was the best swing dancer ever! She loved flowers, working in her garden and took long walks with her dog out Trail Creek, but most of all she loved her family.
Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Rip; seven children—daughter Tracy Rowe (Carl) of Boise; son Jeff Sewell, daughter Bridget Kapala (Rick) daughter Shannon Moss (Tom) and son Zach Sewell (Lori), all of Hailey; son Andy Sewell (Diane) and son Nick Sewell (Tammy), both of Pullman, Wash.; and six grandchildren—Angela (Bryan) Burrell, Claire Everson, Will and Josh Sewell, and Danielle and Jacqueline Sewell; and two great grandchildren—Avery and Shayne Burrell. She was a loving wife and mother and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services for Mary Jo will be held Thursday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Ketchum. A graveside ceremony at Ketchum Cemetery and luncheon at Our Lady of The Snows will immediately follow the service. All are welcome. The family requests that any donations be made to Blaine Manor.
