Mary Jo Deem de Steiguer, daughter of Joseph McKee and Hazel Lee (Bradley) Deem was born on June 26, 1935, in the Scraper community northeast of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and departed this life March 8, 2025, at her Edmond home at the age of 89.
Mary Jo grew up in Tahlequah where she, as a high school student, was elected the State President of Oklahoma's Future Homemakers of America, Governor of Oklahoma Girls State, and Oklahoma Senator to Girls Nation. She attended the Oklahoma College for Women (OCW) her freshman and sophomore years, and then attended Northeastern State University where she graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Education and a Masters of Teaching degrees. Mary Jo did post-graduate work at San Diego State University and Texas A & I. While at OCW she was President of the Freshman class, member of the Student Government, State Treasurer of Oklahoma College Home Economics Clubs, and a member of Be Si Ta Social Club. At Northeastern she was a class officer, member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, and the recipient of the 1956 Luther Brown Award for outstanding intern teacher.
Mary Jo retired from teaching in 1993. She had taught in Tulsa, OK; Austin, TX; Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, CA; Bellevue, NE; Guam; and Tahlequah, OK. While teaching at Tahlequah Junior High, she co-sponsored the Student Council, an activity with the students that she cherished. In 1988, she was chosen Tahlequah's Teacher of the Year. She received the Sertoma Teacher of the Month Award and the American Legion National Education Award. She is listed in the first edition of Who's Who Among American Teachers.
Mary Jo was past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #50; member of Tahlequah Education Association, Oklahoma Education Association; National Education Association; Gladiolus Garden Club; past Chairperson of the Cherokee County Board of Health; member of the Oklahoma Girls State Staff for 30 plus years having served as the 1987 Director and as the Education Director for 20 years. She served as the government instructor and political party advisor for Girls Nation in Washington, DC for 16 years. She was a life member of the Soroptimist Club and served for several years as the "S" Club sponsor. Mary Jo was nominated for Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 1984. She served as Treasurer for the Molly Field Cemetery for decades.
Being married to the love of her life, John de Steiguer, who was a career United States Naval Officer and Aviator, gave the family the opportunity to be stationed on many military installations: NAS Imperial Beach, CA; NAS Kingsville, TX; NAS Key West, FL; NAS Norfolk, VA; Armed Forces Staff College Norfolk, VA; NAS Lemoore, CA; NAS Agana, Guam; and Offutt Air Force Base, SAC Hdq. Omaha, NE. Mary Jo served the Navy Officers Wives Clubs at these duty stations as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Advisor. It was during the tour at Offutt AFB that she was nominated for the Navy Wife of the Year.
Mary Jo cherished the days she spent with John at the Oklahoma Schools Advisory Council office, serving in the later years as his part-time secretary. Being by his side at every opportunity was her greatest pleasure. They both provided the wind beneath each other's wings.
Mary Jo was a member of the South College Church of Christ. She was baptized into the Lord's Church in 1952. She was a Bible School Teacher for preschool, elementary, junior high and senior high girls, and mother's classes for over forty-two years. She especially enjoyed her position in the annual Ladies Day activities; being a presenter at the college girls' retreats; and speaking to the Ladies Wednesday night Bible classes. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Oklahoma Christian Women's Association at the South College Church in support of Oklahoma Christian University.
Mary Jo married Lieutenant Junior Grade John Rodolph de Steiguer in Tahlequah on December 27, 1959. Three children were born to this union: son John R. de Steiguer, Jr., and wife Darla of Edmond, OK; daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Strader and husband Bob of Abilene, TX; and daughter Stephanie Anne (Sande) Huber and husband Jim of Connersville, IN. They were the proud grandparents of Joe and Abby de Steiguer; Carley, Kylie, Conner, and Kamren Cuevas (Mary Beth's daughters); and JJ, Samantha, and Sydney Huber (Sande's children). Both John and Mary Jo delighted in their children and grandchildren. Being together was a must in their lives and having those family gatherings happen was a blessing from above. Mary Jo was blessed to see many of her grandchildren marry: Carley & Patrick Kelley; JJ & Sylvia Huber; Conner & Ross Walker; and Sydney & Derek Poole. She enjoyed time with her great-grandchildren: Addie, Peyton & Beckett Kelley; Mary and Anne Huber; Wesley Walker; and Colson Poole.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 45 years, Commander John R. de Steiguer, Sr. USN Retired on March 9, 2005; and her parents Joseph McKee Deem, 1976; and Hazel Bradley Deem, 2003; her grandson Joe de Steiguer, 2015 and nephew Michael Bowles, 2021. She leaves behind her children and grandchildren and her brother-in-law Dr. Edward de Steiguer and wife Pam of Tucson, AZ; and sister-in-law Nora Bowles of Winston-Salem, NC; one niece Laura de Steiguer; and two nephews Philip de Steiguer and Jeff Bowles; also dear cousins who "filled in" as the brothers and sisters she did not have; and, many, many loved ones and a host of friends.
Mary Jo moved from her beloved Tahlequah in 2007 to Edmond, OK to be near family. She was a faithful member of the Memorial Road church of Christ which filled her life with great joy and opportunities to serve in the Prison Ministry, Our Town mission work, and to continue serving in the Oklahoma Christian Women's Association.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Burnt Cabin Christian Camp, % of the South College Church of Christ, 410 S. College, Tahlequah, OK, 74464.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK.
Services will be held Friday, March 21, 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel in Edmond, OK. Interment will take place beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Molly Field Cemetery in Tahlequah, OK.
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