Mary Jo McCann passed away peacefully on July 28, 2011.
Her quiet passing was a sharp contrast to her active life of leadership and service. She was a pioneer for women in business, a leader in her Catholic faith and an adult lifelong supporter of the Kansas City community.
Mary Jo was born in 1920 in Iola, Kan., to Charles and Mary (Murphy) McCann. She graduated from the University Of Kansas School of Business. She subsequently came to Kansas City and joined a local firm in 1942 and became the first woman CPA in the state of Kansas. Her local firm merged into what is now Deloitte and Touche. Mary Jo was the first woman partner of that firm and retired after 20 years as a member of the partnership.
She served in leadership positions in many organizations including the American Woman’s Society of CPAs, Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, Siena Club, School of Business at the University of Kansas, Finance Committee at St. Joseph Hospital, Missouri Society of CPAs, Board of Trustees at Avila College and Administrative Council at St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. She was active in her faith through St. Peter’s Parish, The Ladies of Charity and the Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. Mary Jo’s passions in life, in addition to her family and faith, were world travel and her Irish heritage.
Mary Jo is survived and will be missed by her sister, Charleen Brain; nephews, Donald Brain and his wife, Jane, David Brain and his wife, Cathi; and six nieces and nephews, Donald III, Genevieve, Andrew, Caroline, Charles and Phillip Brain.
Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 6415 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, Mo., where the Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Graveside services and interment will be at 3 p.m. at Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kan.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Seton Center or the St. Lawrence Center. (Online condolences may be left at www.muehlebachchapel.com)
Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, MO 64131, (816) 444-2060
Mary Jo McCann
