Tributes

Mary Jo Price passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Thursday, November 13, 2025. She was known as a loving daughter and sister, wife and mother, teacher and mentor, and well-known to her friends as an avid fan and supporter of Texas Tech University and the San Antonio Spurs. Mary Jo is survived by her daughter, Jeana Price; son, Alan Paul Price and wife, Kristin Bayer; granddaughter, Kyra Price; brother, Wix Gaston and wife, Joann; nieces, Michele Copeland (Michael) and Dawn Hand (Larry), and six great-nieces and nephews. Mary Jo was born in a close knit farming community in Sudan, Texas on January 18, 1932 to Hazel Walker and Tray Gaston. She was a voracious reader from an early age; and could often be found sitting in a tree which she had climbed to sit in her favorite spot and lose herself in a book. The first person in her family to attend college, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education, with a Teaching Major in Mathematics in 1953. The following year, she married Joe H. Price, also from Sudan, who was then working for Southwestern Bell after having served in the Navy for seven years. Mary Jo later pursued her Master’s degree in Education, and returned to teaching at Lubbock High School. Mary Jo learned to sew when she was young, and like her mother, sewed all her daughter’s clothes until she was in high school. Mary Jo’s family lived in Lubbock, Texas for 15 years before Joe received a promotion from Southwestern Bell and was transferred to San Antonio, Texas in 1969. Desiring to join a small community church like the one she knew growing up in Sudan, Mary Jo found St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in 1969, where she and Joe remained lifetime active members, and Mary Jo served on the Finance Committee for many years. She taught Gifted and Talented level Geometry classes at Lee High School, while earning a second Master’s degree in Library of Science from Our Lady of the Lake. After accruing over 30 years in teaching, Mary Jo spent her last few years before retirement as the Head Librarian at Eisenhauer Middle School. After retirement, Mary Jo and Joe traveled around the United States on Elderhostel learning-focused trips; and then on tours to Canada, Great Britain, and Greece. Mary Jo loved to dance, and she and Joe took many classes of ballroom and western swing dancing during their retirement, even once acting as extras in a film documentary on country music. Through her final days, Mary Jo took comfort in listening to the country gospel and western swing music that she had known and loved from childhood. A Celebration of Life for Mary Jo Price will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church located at 1902 Vance Jackson Rd., San Antonio, TX 78213. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Jo’s memory to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, the American Cancer Society and the Acoustic Neuroma Association.

Tributes

Mary Jo Price

January 18, 1932 - November 13, 2025