Mary Jo Crolley
1938-2026
Mrs. Mary Jo Crolley, 87, of Braddock Heights, Md., went to her eternal rest, February 3, 2026, peacefully at her home.
Born December 7, 1938, in Morgan County, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Marvin Robert Crouse and the late Dorothy Virginia Michael Crouse.
Mary Jo was a gifted baker and cook, distinguishing herself at an early age in 4-H competitions, winning a state championship along the way. She won many blue ribbons for pies and pickles at the Great Frederick Fair, including Best of Show for her sinfully sweet pecan pie.
She graduated from Berkeley Springs High School in 1956 and remained active in school reunions and special events.
Her knowledge of West Virginia history and culture helped her to earn the Golden Horseshoe Award.
Mary Jo was a part of telecommunications history, serving as an early telephone operator for Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company (C & P), working in Berkeley Springs. Mrs. Crolley was a true patriot.
She moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of 17 and began working for the Army Times newspaper. She worked evenings at the historic Tivoli Theatre in order to survive. Mary Jo attended the parade for President Eisenhower’s second inauguration and saw Ike up close. She also exchanged glances with President Kennedy when he motored past the Army Times building.
She married the late Dennis Crolley of Bridgeport, Ohio in 1962 and set up home in Adelphi, Md.
She was an active member and volunteer for Memorial Evangelical United Brethren Church in Silver Spring, Md. After moving to Frederick County, Md. in 1971, Mary Jo continued her active church life at Brook Hill UMC and then Middletown UMC. She also remained involved with Michael’s Chapel UMC in Morgan County, W.Va., a church founded by her great-grandfather as a congregation of the Evangelical Association.
She had many interesting jobs working for a variety of businesses and organizations, including Skyline Realty, Nat Lewis at the Frederick Towne Mall, Carroll Manor Elementary School, Standard Steel, Ryan Homes, the Frederick YMCA, the Bon Ton, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). She worked well into her eighties, finishing her career as a dietary assistant and cook at Record Street Home in Frederick.
Her traditional values and deep faith in Jesus Christ made her an empathetic advocate and passionate caregiver for others. She helped organize opposition to a plan to make Braddock Heights a gated community, succeeding in keeping the roads open and free. Mary Jo always looked for ways to help others and used her gifts to express care and love for those in need. She was dedicated to her family and enjoyed spending time with all of her friends and loved ones.
She is survived by her daughter, Alexa Lynn Crolley of Frederick, Md., and her son, Dennis Oakley Crolley of Winchester, Va., her sister, Daisy M. Crouse and brother, Darrell W. Crouse, both of Hedgesville, W.Va.
Her older brother, Robert W. Crouse, preceded her in death.
A funeral service officiated by the Rev. Dr. Katie Bishop will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Mount Zion UMC, 5377 Martinsburg Road, Berkeley Springs, WV, 25411. Visitation starts at 10 a.m., continuing until the service begins. Burial will follow at Spohrs Crossroads Cemetery, with a reception afterwards in the Mt. Zion UMC Social Hall.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV.
