Mary-Jo Horton Obituary

Palm City - Mary-Jo Hartwell Horton, age 95, died June 24, 2025, in Palm City, Florida. She was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and resided in Miami, Florida for 25 years before coming to Palm City in 1984.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Stuart, Florida.

After retiring in 1984 as Vice President of Human Resources and Public Affairs for Burdines department store for 35 years, she became Trustee for the Federated Allied Medical Trust in 1992 until her death. She was a member of many professional organizations and served on many Dade County not for profit organization boards.

Prior to Burdines she was a civilian employee for the Department of the Army Quartermaster Division, at the US Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, 1951-1953.

Valedictorian of her 1947 Palm Beach High School graduating class and designated Distinguished Alumni in Business in 1992, she graduated Phi Theta Kappa Honor Fraternity from Palm Beach Junior College and subsequently from the University of Miami, Epsilon Tau Lambda Honor Fraternity with BBA and MBA Degrees. She was Adjunct Professor and Program Chair, Florida Institute of Technology 1985-1997; adjunct professor Barry University, 1996-2000. She was a member of many Professional organizations.

An outstanding civic volunteer, she served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Martin Memorial Health Systems, Inc., President, Martin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary with 15,000 hours and Martin Memorial Foundation Women Philanthropy; a 50 year member, past president, region governor, board member and Laurel Society Recipient of Soroptimist International of the Americas; member and officer of Stuart Sunrise Rotary Club; member and officer of the Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO), 45 year member Halpatiokee Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; Dames of The Magna Charta, United Daughters of 1812; United Daughters of the Confederacy.

She was a 30 year member of the Coral Gables, Florida Country Club, member of the Martin Downs Country Club and The Monarch Country Club. Named one of the Miami's 10 Best Dressed Women in 1970 and Martin County Woman of Distinction in 1994 she enjoyed diverse activities including a brief acting career as an extra in1985 movies and as one of six co-authors for the 2012 book, Eavesdropping: When Real Women Talk.

Survivors - Sister, Margaret Hartwell Granger of Charlotte, NC, nieces, great nieces, great nephews of Charlotte, NC. and Feline Friend, Spice.

Predeceased by: Husband Henry W. Horton, Jr., parents, Oliver and Wilma Hartwell and feline friends, Missy and Prissy.

Thank you to family friends Jackson and Katrina Houser for their loving care and kindness for being there for Mary-Jo at this time. A big thank you to the five ladies from Acorn Elder Care who looked after Mary-Jo with compassion and love.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 10, 2025 at Aycock Funeral Home Young & Prill Chapel, 6801 SE Federal Highway, Stuart Fl.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cleveland Clinic Martin Health Foundation, P.O. Box 9010, Stuart, FL 34995 or to the Laurel Society, Soroptimist International of the Americas, 1709 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.