Mary Joan (Bley) McCown-Riddle

Mary Joan (Bley) McCown-Riddle, 50, of Chillicothe, Mo., passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., after a year-long battle with leukemia.

She was born and raised in Nevada, Mo., graduating from Nevada High School. She attended Southern Missouri State University in Springfield. Her parents were Marjorie Havens Bley and Marvin Bley.

In 1987, she married Gary Joe McCown at Springfield, Mo., and he preceded her in death in 2003. In 2007, she married Jason Riddle in Eureka Springs, Ark. For 24 years she owned and operated State Beauty Supply in Chillicothe.

Her hobby was horseback riding and raising horses. She is survived by her daughter, Sierra Dawn McCown of the home; husband, Jason Riddle; stepsons, Jessie Riddle and Josey Riddle of the home; mother, Marjorie Seitz, Nevada; father, Marvin Bley of Montrose, Mo.; sisters, Barbara Lycan and husband, Brad, of Kansas City, Mo., Linda Barner and husband, Matthew, of Springfield, Mo., Carol Tweedy and husband, Cedric, of Independence, Mo.; brother, Gary Bley and wife, Stella, of Montrose, Mo.; and nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her maternal grandparents, Harry and Vivian Havens; paternal grandparents, Charles and Viva Bley; and stepgrandmother, Iva Bley.

Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, next to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church of which Mary Jo was a member. The Rev. Rex Leppin conducted the services.

Pallbearers were Brent Riddle, Travis Riddle, Charles Harbert, William Given, Tobias Gingerich, Rex Chaney, Rick Thompson and Freeman Detweiler.

Memorials to honor Mary Jo may be made to Sierra McCown to finish her college education at Truman State University at Kirksville, Mo., in care of Heritage Funeral Home, 3141 N. Washington, Chillicothe, MO 64601.