Mary Jo Camden Philbeck, 68, Gardner, Kansas passed away Monday, October 24, 2022 at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kansas. Inurnment will be at Maplewood Cemetery, Emporia, Kansas. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com

Mary Jo was born on July 25, 1954 in Emporia, Kansas to George and Lucille (Commeree) Camden. She grew up in Emporia and graduated in 1972 from Emporia High School. Mary Jo worked in Topeka, Kansas for Hallmark as a line batch operator, retiring in 2015. She loved to garden and enjoyed the ocean. When Mary Jo was younger, she liked to barrel race and participate in shodeo competition in the Flint Hills.  Mary Jo and Cary were avid members of American Legion Riders Post 19 in Gardner, Kansas. She was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She moved from Topeka in 2016 to live in Gardner.

Mary Jo is survived by her daughter Heidi Needels, Gardner, Kansas; partner Cary Guild, Gardner, Kansas; sisters Georgia (Robert) Beyer, Emporia, Kansas and Deb (David) Parrish, Florence, Arizona and grandchildren Blake and Christian.  She was preceded in death by her parents.