Mary Jo Bevan

Mary Jo Bevan peacefully shuffled off her mortal coil at 98 ½ years old on September 6, 2026 at her home in Edmonds, Washington. Born in Helena, Montana to a doctor (Beryl Cecil Shearer) and a nurse (Methyl Adell Ellis Shearer), she was always a force of nature. She graduated Salutatorian from Helena High School and matriculated at Stanford University as a pre-med major. Post-war circumstances required her to return home where she briefly attended the University of Montana and joined Alpha Phi sorority. Thanks to the generosity of her beloved aunt and uncle (David and Josephine Shearer Berg), she transferred to the University of Washington where she graduated from its acclaimed School of Nursing.

She married her husband Jack Bevan (who pre-deceased her just over a year earlier) shortly after graduation and began a lifetime of adventures throughout their almost 75 years of marriage - first across the Pacific Northwest and then around the world. She took several years away from medicine to have her 4 children and, that not keeping her busy enough, she became an indispensable member and leader of a variety of organizations that spanned the wide range of her intellectual and cultural interests. Throughout her life, her passion was to empower women, from her choice of career to work with the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. As a respected member of her community, she brought her skills to the Highlands Opera Guild, Cascade Symphony, Olympic Ballet, received a Cultural Achievement Award from the Edmonds Music and Arts Club in 2003, and co-founded and chaired the Beaux Arts Ball. A lyric soprano with a love of music, she sang in the Sno-King Chorale for decades, played bridge monthly with lifelong friends and was an avid learner - deeply interested in art, music, the natural world, the cosmos, anthropology, and psychology.

Her nursing career began upon graduation with her first passion, surgery, where she worked with the renowned Dr. William Hutchison who would go on to found the Fred Hutchison Cancer Center. Upon returning to work when her “last child started school,” she joined Dr. Joseph Sebren’s OBGYN practice in Edmonds where, as head nurse, she became the person upon whom generations of patients came to rely for the calm, warm, and professional support she gave to them throughout their lives.

Frequently saying that her family was “the best thing [she] ever did,” she was enormously proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the close relationships that they continue to share. Her four children; Susan (Tony Daddino, dcd), Scott (Misako), Salli Leslie (Michael) and Stacey revel in the stories of her persistence and determination. She was lucky to know, enjoy, and advise (!) her seven grandchildren; Colin Daddino (Heartie), Adam Daddino, Claire Daddino (Danny Gonzalez), Misty Graf (Jason Lucas), Gillian Bevan, Nicholas Tuttle (Sarah LaMoyne) and Gwynne Hochberg (Aaron). Over the past few years she enthusiastically welcomed 10 great-grandchildren; Bevan and Barrett Daddino, Ivy, Caroline and Grace Gonzalez, Leah Stewart and Tristan Lucas, Josephine and Jacqueline Tuttle, and Sebastian Hochberg.

Predeceased by her sister, she is also survived by Suzanne’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild; Tris Mahaffay (Kim) and Melissa Eddy, Liam and Aidan Mahaffay, David Eddy and David Eddy, Jr. The family acknowledges and appreciates the love and support she received from her caregivers, Rod and Tita Ocfemia, who are part of the extended family and were devoted to both parents in their final years.

Throughout their lifetime partnership, Jo and Jack skied, traveled and played golf together – each achieving their own hole-in-ones! Their greatest joys, however, were the times they spent with family and friends during summers up at Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. Mary Jo leaves an un-fillable hole in the Universe, but all who knew her are the better for it.

Memorial contributions can be made to the University of Washington’s School of Nursing.

Acknowledgement to Beck’s Funeral Home for the counsel and kind support that they have provided to the family these past 2 years when both Jo and Jack were delivered to them for their final care.

Mother’s Day

Sometimes Dad gets all the glory,

But Mom completes our family story!

Mom - you’re the one who planned the dinners -

And made sure we were not sinners.

You took us to church and gave us chores:

“Please set the table, or sweep the floors!”

Books from when you were young we read -

Perrine now lives inside our heads.

In the living room we built blanket camps

And took some care to not break the lamps.

We lined up chairs for front hall trains -

Lots of alternatives to outside rains!

Mattresses covered the stairs for sledding

In the same house where you planned our weddings.

You made our pretty party dresses

And brushed out all our tangled tresses.

You washed and dried our piles of clothes

And when we went out, you counted each nose.

Santa brought Christmas (gifts AND tree) overnight -

And the next morning you were not uptight (or upright!)

You worked so we could have college and more -

It helped to get us Sucia Four.

You designed, built, then redesigned a home

Where we all return from wherever we roam.

But the greatest gift was siblings four

Who adventured together going out the door.

So many memories, so much fun

Our family is the best - every one.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!