Mary Jo (McGrody) Cain
1932-2021

Mary Jo (McGrody) Cain, age 89, passed away at home in Sequim, WA April 14, after a battle with kidney failure, multiple myeloma and chronic urinary tract infections. Adopted at nine months in 1932 by Marie and Irvine Cain in Indianapolis, Indiana, it wasn't until 2020 that she confirmed her birth mother was Mary McGrody, also of that area, and that she had a half-brother, David Berry, who lives at Fishers, IN, as well as several nephews and nieces.
After high school she went to work for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis while taking nurse's training. But science caught her attention. She graduated from the University of Indiana with a BA in Research and Development. She went to work in Denver, CO on a grant studying genetics and worked and wrote papers in conjunction with some of the leading scientists in DNA research.
Finally, she moved to southern California to live with her mother and sister Helen. She lived for 37 years in Whitter and retired from the University of California-Irvine where she supervised a research laboratory. When both relatives had passed on, she moved to Apache Junction to the Pueblo RV resort, where she met Ruth Messing. As registered domestic partners they enjoyed homes there and in Alpine, CA and then moved across the street in Apache Junction to the women-owned Superstition Mountain Resort.
In 2005, Mary Jo fell in love with the Pacific Northwest, which had attracted Ruth for many years and they moved to Sequim, Washington, while enjoying property ownership at the women-owned Discovery Bay Resort in Gardiner. They traveled extensively in their RV before arthritic knees said "no" to steps. They still traveled via car, usually to casinos, combining it with stays at timeshares. Their last such journey was to one of their yearly favorites, Northern Quest Casino near Spokane, Washington. On the way home, Jo became ill and thus began the saga of many hospitalizations. She passed away at home under the supervised care of Assured Hospice.
A lifelong devout catholic, she was a member of St. Joseph parish in Sequim.
Mary Jo chose cremation and her remains will be buried with her sister and mother at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA. She requested no memorial service.
A lifelong lover of dogs, cows and horses, she requested that donations be made in her name to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Moab, UT.
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Peninsula Daily News on Apr. 18, 2021.
After high school she went to work for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis while taking nurse's training. But science caught her attention. She graduated from the University of Indiana with a BA in Research and Development. She went to work in Denver, CO on a grant studying genetics and worked and wrote papers in conjunction with some of the leading scientists in DNA research.
Finally, she moved to southern California to live with her mother and sister Helen. She lived for 37 years in Whitter and retired from the University of California-Irvine where she supervised a research laboratory. When both relatives had passed on, she moved to Apache Junction to the Pueblo RV resort, where she met Ruth Messing. As registered domestic partners they enjoyed homes there and in Alpine, CA and then moved across the street in Apache Junction to the women-owned Superstition Mountain Resort.
In 2005, Mary Jo fell in love with the Pacific Northwest, which had attracted Ruth for many years and they moved to Sequim, Washington, while enjoying property ownership at the women-owned Discovery Bay Resort in Gardiner. They traveled extensively in their RV before arthritic knees said "no" to steps. They still traveled via car, usually to casinos, combining it with stays at timeshares. Their last such journey was to one of their yearly favorites, Northern Quest Casino near Spokane, Washington. On the way home, Jo became ill and thus began the saga of many hospitalizations. She passed away at home under the supervised care of Assured Hospice.
A lifelong devout catholic, she was a member of St. Joseph parish in Sequim.
Mary Jo chose cremation and her remains will be buried with her sister and mother at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Rowland Heights, CA. She requested no memorial service.
A lifelong lover of dogs, cows and horses, she requested that donations be made in her name to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Moab, UT.
To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.
Published in Peninsula Daily News on Apr. 18, 2021.