Molly Jo (Kirk) Wade

Molly Jo Wade of Valrico, Florida and formerly of Cardington, Ohio, passed away peacefully one year ago, January 17, 2020, at the graceful age of 89.

On June 29, 1930, “Baby Jo” was born to Bomar and Maggie (Reeves) Kirk in Corsicana, TX. Working in the oil industry, her daddy moved the family to Illinois, where she attended school in Grayville graduating in 1948. Grayville Days was an event that she loved to attend. Catching up with friends and classmates to reminisce gave her enjoyment. Grayville, Illinois was also where she met and married Jack L. Wade in 1953. Life would continue in Grayville as the family grew. Derek Lee was born in 1953, followed by Kim Allen in 1955, and completing the family was Jill Marie in 1960. In

1964, like so many others, the oil boom brought their family to Morrow County, Ohio. Planting roots in Cardington, they raised their family.

Jo was a homemaker who loved spending time with family and friends. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were adored by her. When in Ohio she missed the family in Florida and vice versa. Fishing, Bingo, Dominos, Phase 10 and various other games were great fun for her. She was well known for her good cooking and in later years enjoyed coloring. Her life included many adventures as she was fortunate to travel to many countries, as well as live in California, New Mexico, and Florida along with Illinois and Ohio. THE Ohio State Buckeyes were cheered on by Jo as well as the Tampa Bay Lightning, although she never understood what “Icing” meant. The Olympics and Ice Skating were other events she loved to watch.

In 2009, Molly Jo moved to Florida to be close to her daughter and family there. She was a traveler. Always up for the next adventure, watching space shuttle launches from Cape Canaveral in Florida were special events for her. Whether it was a night launch or driving the night before and staying awake all night to watch a 9 a.m. launch, she was more than happy! Fresh was best when it came to food. Finding the best orange groves to pick Honey bells and searching out produce markets for fresh from the field veggies and fruit gave her pleasure. Age did not hinder her. Usually, a couple trips a year to The Smoky Mountains to watch Elk, look for bears, sip Moonshine and eat at The Trout Farm were some of her pleasures. Classmates from school lived in Lakeland and Orlando so every now and then she visited them. Since moving to Florida Jo made a point to visit Ohio annually. Her 89th Birthday was celebrated in June 2019 while in Marion with a surprise party hosted by her granddaughter. She was very surprised and enjoyed it immensely. When Jo returned to Florida, she had contracted pneumonia and that was the beginning of the greatest decline in her health. She was able to make one more trip to the Smoky Mountains in September of 2019 with her family from Florida joined by a few Ohio girls. She loved the mountains and the tranquility there. In December she entered a care facility where she was loved and cared for until God called her home.

Left with broken hearts and to cherish all of the fantastic memories are her daughter Jill (Clair) Evans of Riverview, FL and their son Cody (Brittany Abeledo) Evans and children Shelby and Brody, daughter Cheyenne Evans and her daughter Brooklyn, and friend Charlie, grandson Shawn (Nickie) Wade and children Erin, Taylor, Loegen, Nickolas, Maggie and Wyatt, granddaughter Shannon (Kenny) Herndon and children Maddox, McKenna (Cole) Cocherl and children Axton and Wills, grandson Kirk (Tifffany) Wade and children Austin, Kevin and Kyle. Many special friends include Shirley Kiskadden, Jean Robinson, “second daughter” Teresa Fox and her daughter DeLaney.

Jo was preceded in death by her awesome parents, her precious sons Derek and Kim and her hard-working husband Jack. On July 28, 2020, surrounded by loved ones, Jo was laid to rest at the head of the family in Fulton Cemetery. “Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not.”