Mary Jo Carson was the only child of Wayne Park Reese and Joseph Reddin Andrews, born September 6, 1927 in Houston, Texas. She was a fifth generation Texan, whose family fought in the Battles of Texas Independence.

Mary Jo graduated from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston (1944) at 16, then from the University of Texas at 19. Mary Jo lived in Austin from 1944 until 2005, except during her Army Service in San Antonio.

Mary Jo was a member of Alpha Omega Pi sorority at the University. In fact, her sorority sisters at the University of Texas (who nicknamed her "Andy") were the ones who introduced her to her future husband, Jack Milton Carson. Mary Jo and Jack were married November 19, 1949.

Mary Jo was a true pioneer. She not only got a degree and a license, she practiced as a registered dietician for 50 years. Mary Jo was one of the first women who practiced a profession, while being married and raising a family. She managed to have a flexible work schedule long before most women worked. On top of that, Mary Jo managed to participate in family life, church life, and play bridge regularly.

A very important part of Mary Jo's life was membership in the Wedding Ring class at First United Methodist Church, from its inception in 1950. Her bridge partners were also members of the Wedding Ring Class, as were many of her closest friends. She was known for her dry sense of humor, her wit, and her kindness.

Another important part of Mary Jo's life was her family, especially her two children, Andy and Kathy. Mary Jo was also very proud of her two grandchildren, Allie and Carson McDonald, and their many accomplishments. In her later years, "Nanny" loved to go see Allie's ballet recitals and Carson's ballgames.

Mary Jo was a life-long, die-hard UT sports fan. She had season tickets for football, women's basketball, and her favorite-baseball. Mary Jo began cultivating that love of sports by taking her grandchildren to UT baseball games at an early age.

Recently preceded in death by Jack Milton Carson, her husband of 58 years, Mary Jo is survived by her son Andy and daughter-in-law Alison; by her daughter Kathy and son-in-law William McDonald; and by her grandchildren Allie and Carson McDonald.

Memorial services were held at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at Weed-Corley Fish Chapel, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd. In lieu of flowers, Mary Jo requested contributions to the Endowment Fund of the First United Methodist Church-Austin, Texas.