NEWTON, N.C. — Mary Jo Shufelt, 81, of Newton, North Carolina, passed away on January 31, 2019 at Carolina Caring.

Born on Jan. 2, 1938 in Sanford, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Lillian and James Pickett.

Mary was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend to all who knew her. She was politically active in her local community. Mary was an avid animal lover and rescued furry friends through the years. She was a retired Prince William County School teacher who enjoyed spending summers in Wells Beach, Maine.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard T. Shufelt; brothers, Carlton Pickett, James Pickett; and sister, Priscilla Dacus.

Survivors include her daughters, Sandra Shufelt of Germantown, Maryland, Susan Buchanan of Newton, North Carolina; sister, Earline Sugden of Baltimore; and numerous other beloved family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The City of Newton Police, PO Box 550, Newton NC 28658, (please put in memo line – Police dept./Major Hayes) or The Humane Society of Catawba County (HSCC), PO Box 63, Hickory, NC 28603.

Condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.

The Shufelt Family is under the care of Catawba Funeral Home.