Murphys, CA…The Reverend Mary Jo Siders, age 81, of Murphys, California, passed away on May 6, 2017. She was born in Rushville, Illinois on August 12, 1935, to Russell and Louise (Mallory) Logan. After graduation from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1957, she married William (Bill) Siders and moved to California. They had two children, Susan and Sarah. Jo worked as a school secretary and office manager for an architectural and engineering firm in San Francisco. She and Bill subsequently divorced.

In 1985, she completed an M.A. in Arts Administration. Shortly thereafter, she was called to ministry. She attended Pacific School of Religion and received her Master of Divinity in 1987. She was licensed in 1988 and ordained as a United Church of Christ minister in 1989. She was drawn to serve as an interim minister because she loved traveling to different places, meeting people and working with a congregation in transition, then going on to a new adventure in a different locale. Jo served in at least seven interim positions. She also served as an interim Conference Minister for several conferences. Recently, Jo retired from her ministry work. She has been a resident of Murphys, California for approximately 17 years.

Jo enjoyed being involved in community activities. This began years ago, when she was her daughters’ Girl Scout leader, to recently when she helped with the annual Sierra Nevada Film Festival and served as a member of the Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee.

She is much loved and will be missed by her daughter Susan Siders; grandchildren Derrell (Renee), Lea, Jada, Cayla, Clementh, Kevin and Trevor; great grandchildren Miranda, Arryn and Anthony; and siblings Robe1t (Kathleen Hamm) Logan and Katltryn (Dale Hormann) Logan. She was predeceased by her daughter Sarah Siders, grandchildren Aaron and Katelyn and sister Becky Logan.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on May 13, 2017, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Murphys (corner of Church and Algiers Streets). Donations may be made to the First Congregational UCC Seminarian Fund (PO Box 48, Murphys, CA 95247) or to the National Park Foundation (https://www.nationalparks.org/).