Mary Jo Stover

Mary Jo Stover, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on December 25, 2025, at the age of 79.

Mary Jo was born on August 20, 1946, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Glen and Maxine Chaffin. She grew up in the Des Moines area and graduated from Des Moines Technical High School, where she met the love of her life, Paul. Mary Jo and Paul met when they were 15 years old in Room #301. Their love story began at a young age and grew into a lifetime of cherished memories. In later years, they enjoyed spending the winter months together in Tucson, Arizona, a place they found especially beautiful and peaceful.

Mary Jo was known for her gentle spirit; she was a sweet and selfless woman, always putting others before herself. She had a creative heart and found joy in many things, including making quilts for animal shelters. She also loved to cook and bake, generously sharing her creations with neighbors and friends.

Left to cherish Mary Jo's memory are her loving husband, Paul Stover; her children, Paul Stover Jr. (Sherri) and Jerry Stover; her nine grandchildren; her seven great-grandchildren; and her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Don and Linda Streigle, Randy and Jill Allred, and Dave and Jana Winter.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Maxine Chaffin, and her parents-in-law, Gerald and Laura Stover.

She will be remembered for her kindness, her creativity, and the quiet way she touched so many lives. Her love and legacy live on through the family she cherished so deeply.

The family of Mary Jo will have a celebration of life at a later date.