Mary Josephine “Jo” Bearse: Obituary

Mary Josephine “Jo” Bearse passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Sunday June 4, 2017 in Blairsville, GA. Jo was born in her family home in Atlanta, GA on July 30, 1922. Her parents were the late Asa Taylor Bearse Sr. and Mary Wingo Bearse. Jo was also preceded in death by her brothers, Asa Taylor Bearse Jr., and Danforth Parker Bearse, her nephews Asa Taylor Bearse III and Danforth “Danny” Parker Bearse Jr., and her beloved friend and partner Alice Hirt.

Jo Bearse attended UGA, class of 1944, where she was a member of the Sigma Phi chapter of Kappa Delta. During WWII, she enlisted in the Navy WAVES. She was stationed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station where she served as a Link trainer/instructor. In the late 40s, she began working for Delta Airlines where she met her dearest friend and eventual partner, Alice Hirt, who worked for Eastern Airline. Jo eventually settled in Young Harris, GA. where she and Alice opened the first Young Harris College Bookstore, ‘The Campus Gate,’ which together, they ran for many years.

Jo was a mid-century modern woman who had a great love of books, art, and living in the mountains on Crow Gap Farm. She always enjoyed playing bridge, gardening and being a longtime member of the FOL “Friends of the Library”. “Great Plant Jo” was happiest when sharing a good meal and conversation with her very large extended family and many friends, of which she had tons of both.

Surviving Jo are her nieces and nephew, Teresa Morgan Bearse, Carol and Lamar Cole, Ellen Bearse Parker, Amanda Bearse, and Martha Bearse Turner. Great nieces and nephews Lore and Richard Moya, Taylor and Sarah Bearse, Debbie and Ron Torres, Michele Cole Broadbooks, Alexa Morton, Graham Parker, Zoe Bearse, Michael Turner, and Susan and Phillip Hoang, as well as numerous great-great nieces and nephews, many other relatives, and countless friends.

To Jo, her family and friends were everything. Her carpe diem lifestyle was inspiring and her wisdom was influential. Her presence was undeniable, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. As she used to sign her letters, “Thinking of you often and always with love”, we too shall think of Jo often and most definitely, always with love.

The family wishes to thank the amazing staff at Stonehenge Assisted Living, Jo’s dear friends Marcia Aunspaugh and Jane Russell, all of her North Georgia friends, and extended/surrogate family members for their great love and care.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at Rock Spring Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jo’s honor to either Young Harris College Arts Department or Rock Spring Presbyterian Church.

Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences online atwww.mountainviewfuneralhome.com