Mary Jo Markwood Kauffman

Mary Jo Markwood Kauffman, 90, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away on May 5, 2018. Mary Jo was born on September 25, 1927 to the late Gordon and Francis Markwood. She graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1945 and the Lancaster-Fairfield County Hospital School of Nursing in 1948, as a Registered Nurse. She married Donald S. Kauffman in 1948 and they had 3 daughters: Carol, Chris, and Ellen. Mary Jo and Don were members of the First United

Methodist Church in Lancaster and were active in the Fairfield County Farm Bureau and the Lancaster Elks Club, as well as other organizations. Mary Jo was also active in the Fairfield County chapter of the American Cancer Society. Later in life, she resided in Whitehall, then in Beaufort, South Carolina, before returning several years ago to live at the family farm on Stringtown Road in Lancaster.

Mary Jo is survived by her daughters Carol Ritter (Jack) of Lancaster, Chris Hofmeister of Hideaway Hills in Sugar Grove, and Ellen Kauffman of Dublin; Carol's two daughters, Elizabeth Levy and Amy Donaldson (George Pride), of Gahanna; Elizabeth's son Zachary Hensley of Gahanna; and Amy and George's five children: Geordon Pride, Mason Pride, Amy Leigh Pride, Leleah Pride, and Lee Pride, all of Gahanna. She is also survived by her brothers Richard Markwood (Carol) and Mike Markwood (Debbie) of Lancaster; sister Joyce McCartney of Lancaster; sister Judy Fraley (Homer) of Whitewright, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

Mary Jo enjoyed a fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse. She loved golfing, flower gardening, and being outdoors in nature. In her later years, she enjoyed watching golf tournaments on TV, as well as basketball, baseball, and football. She was preceded in death by Angel, her beloved miniature Schnauzer. Mary Jo will be deeply missed by her loving family.

Visitation hours will be on Friday, May 11, 2018, 10:00-11:30am, immediately followed by a funeral service at 11:30am at the Halteman-Fett & Dyer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary Jo's name to the Fairfield Area Humane Society, 1721 Granville Pike, Lancaster, Ohio 43130. www.fairhumane.org.