Obituary: Mary Jo McGrath-Hoffman Feb. 7, 1951-July 21, 2021

MARY JO MCGRATH-HOFFMAN Feb. 7, 1951 – July 21, 2021

Mary Jo McGrath-Hoffman (70) of El Paso, Texas passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

Mary Jo was the first of ten children born to William J. McGrath and Dorothy H. Cusack McGrath.

She was born February 7, 1951 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent her early years growing up in Southern Michigan. The family moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1967 where Mary Jo completed her formal education and graduated Mayfield High School in 1969.

Shortly after graduation she began working for the University of California – Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and completed degrees in math and computer science and earned numerous graduate degrees. She continued to live and work in Los Alamos until her retirement in 2005. Mary Jo and her husband Larry Hoffman moved to El Paso, Texas shortly following retirement.

Mary Jo was an extremely gifted woman who had natural talent for languages and a love for animals, especially dogs and horses. She competed  in American Quarter Horse Association competitions and won several Grand Championships in shows. Wherever her heart led her she pursued it passionately and with all her strength. She and Larry loved the outdoors and hiked into some of the most remote wilderness areas of the West. She passed on this rustic love to her nieces and nephew by taking them along with her on many occasions.

Mary Jo will always be remembered for generous heart, hearty laugh, quick wit and compassion for animals. She was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was preceded in death by her father, William and brothers, Timothy and James. She is survived by her husband Larry Hoffman, siblings Patrick McGrath, Christine Wantuck (Paul), Michael McGrath (Rhonda), Karen Downing (Doug), Matthew McGrath (Denise), Theresa van den Bulk (Henri) and Richard McGrath (Lori).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cowboys for Cancer Research, PO Box 202, Doña Ana, NM 88032

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held in the near future. Arrangements are pending.

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