Mary Jo Meyer Schweers of Hondo, 82, passed away Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Mary Jo was born in Hondo, Texas, on June, 14, 1937 to Joe W. Meyer and Louise Bendele Meyer. Mary Jo's mom was 25 years old when her second child and first daughter Mary Jo was born. This baby daughter was a long awaited treasure for Mary Jo s mom whose own mother had died when she was only 15 years old. Little Mary Jo entered life as a sister to her three-year-old brother, Roy. Three more sisters followed: Barbara Jean, Carole and Franci. Mary Jo attended Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School from first through eighth grade. She was a very good student who enjoyed her schoolwork. It is likely her elementary school experiences directed her ultimately to become a teacher herself. One endeavor at which she excelled was penmanship and her later students were encouraged to develop an equally attractive handwriting. Under the tutelage of nuns who taught at St. John s School, Mary Jo developed into an accomplished pianist. She often played the organ for church services. Hondo High School was home to Mary Jo for her secondary education. She continued with her music studies, first as a bugler with the Hondo Owl Drum and Bugle Corps and then as a member of the Owl marching band, concert band, and jazz bands playing the tenor saxophone. Of course, she maintained her tradition of good scholarship and likewise her loyalty to her friends and her causes. She even joined the girls' basketball team and became one of the fighting Owlettes. Another fighting Owl quickly caught her eye and captured her heart. Her sweetheart was Glenn Schweers, football quarterback, all around basketball team player, and baseball first baseman. Mary Jo s college career launched in the fall of 1955 initially with a band scholarship to Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas. She played saxophone for the Lobos marching and concert bands for two years. During this time she also continued honing her piano skills. After two years, she gave up her scholarship to work for a college professor to fund her college expenses. Mary Jo then turned her focus to elementary education where she discovered her true career calling. After having been a big sister to Carole and Franci, she knew how to engage with younger children. Her artistic skills gave her significant advantage in designing activities and content for elementary school curriculum. Ironically, Glenn, her sweetheart, was awarded a baseball scholarship to Sul Ross. The couple dated steadily through college and married June 6, 1959, just two weeks after their college graduation. Mary Jo s first job was in D Hanis, teaching elementary school and sponsoring the pep squad, which consisted of many girls who became life-long friends. By the fall of her first year, Glenn was drafted into the Army, so at the beginning of 1960, Mary Jo joined Glenn at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where she taught 4th grade. She often said being so far from home and family helped them both to grow up. When Glenn's two-year hitch was over, they returned to Hondo where Mary Jo taught 3rd grade at Meyer Elementary and Glenn worked on the family farm. Their first child, Lisa, was born in 1962 and their son, Glenn, Jr. was born in 1964. By 1969, Glenn, Sr. also joined the education profession as a coach. As her children grew, Mary Jo supported them in their activities with 4-H, St. John's CCD, Little League and Camp Fire Girls. It was also during this time she discovered her passion for playing bridge. Taught by her mother-in-law, the ladies formed a group who played monthly for over 50 years. She became a bleacher mom when her children played high school sports and her husband coached. After 40 years of teaching, she retired to further pursue hobbies of sewing, knitting, traveling, family history and her favorite: antique shopping. This was also a time when she enjoyed her favorite job of being (Mimi) to her grandchildren, Tyler and Hope. She became a life member of Castro Colonies Heritage Association, a charter member of the Alsatian Pioneers Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and she joined the Schweers Historical Foundation and Texas Retired Teachers Association. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Barbara Jean. Her survivors include her husband, Glenn; her children, Lisa Schweers and Glenn (Julie) Schweers; her grandchildren, Tyler (Nikki) Schweers and Hope Schweers, and her great-grandchild, Tilden Roy Schweers. Visitation was 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home. Recitation of the Rosary was Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m. with a funeral mass to follow at 11 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Interment was at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section. Memorials may be made to Medina Regional Hospital, 3100 Ave. Q, Hondo, TX. 78861, or to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.