Mary Joanne Mccreary

Mary Jo was born on November 30, 1927 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California to Elery and Mary Storholm. After a full and wonderful life, she passed away on September 16, 2012.

She was raised by her loving parents in the seaside city of San Diego. She spoke with great fondness of growing up there. After the difficult years of the depression they opened the family market in Mission Hills, Storholm's, "Fine Food Purveyors." She studied history and art at San Diego State University and joined Epsilon Pi Theta. With her stature and poise she won many local beauty pageants and in 1948 was crowned Miss San Diego. Local scandal ensued when she challenged racial prejudices of the time to pose for photos at the Tijuana Racetrack as she presented the winning trophy. Her career as a professional model took her to Hollywood. She met her husband Lew on a blind date at the Palladium where he was playing lead trombone with Harry James Orchestra. So began a beautiful romance and partnership to cherish the rest of her life.

Lew and "Honey Jo" (as he called her) married and lived on Vine Street in Hollywood until settling in the San Fernando Valley to raise their daughters, Susan and Janet. Lew's career as a highly regarded trombonist in the film and recording studios flourished and Jo created a harmonious home life for the family. There was much love, music, tears, and laughter shared with friends throughout the years.
She had a quick wit, a keen interest in current events and assisting those less fortunate in this world. She was unfailingly gentle, gracious, and kind.

Jo is survived by her daughter, Janet Crozier (husband Tom), grandchildren, Lauren (fiancé, Ryan Ranson) and Sean Crozier, Jason, Mary, and Don Leman, Adam and Tamara Merschel and great grandchildren, Avery and Teagan Merschel, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, William and Mollie Geise and numerous friends throughout the world.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lew in 1999, daughter, Susan Leman in 2006, parents, Elery and Mary Storholm, and brother, Roger Storholm.
resided in Ventura, California at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.