Mary Vermillion

Mary Jo Vermillion, 81, made her final exit from life's stage on Saturday, March 12.Surrounded by her family, she stepped into God's presence peacefully.Mary Jo Vermillion was born Mary Jo Inman on September 11, 1934, to George E.and Esther "Becky" Inman. She grew up in Vincennes, and graduated from Lincoln HighSchool in 1952. As her father was the football coach for the Vincennes Alices, Mary Joloved to tell stories about the football players and the mischief they would cause both onand off the field. She was a faithful alumni, always supporting the class activities at the60+ years of reunions.After high school, Mary Jo enrolled at the School of Nursing at IU-PU in Indianapolis,and graduated the program in 1955. She came back to Vincennes, but just long enoughto start dating and marry Norman Arnold Vermillion. When they were married onOctober 26, 1956, they moved to Muncie, IN where Arnold could attend Ball StateUniversity and Mary Jo worked as a nurse at Ball Memorial. She would later take classesto specialize in cardiac care (a new field at the time), and worked at Henry Countyhospital in New Castle, IN. In 1972, the family moved back to Vincennes, and she took abit of a break. She eventually went to work at Good Samaritan Hospital and then laterbecame a nurse with the Head Start program and a school nurse at Vincennes University.She retired from nursing in the 1980s.Everyone who knew Mary Jo knew that she had three passions in life - her faith, herfamily, and her theatre work. Mary Jo was bitten by the acting bug as a child, but itwasn't until she moved to Muncie that she began to work on stage. A member of theMuncie Civic Theater, she acted in several plays. The PTO group at NorthviewElementary School was looking for a way to raise money, and Mary Jo suggested doing aplay. She volunteered to direct. What followed were four years of plays that raised a lotof money for the school - sold out performances of plays like The Egg and I and the BoyWho Changed the World. Mary Jo had found her calling. When the family moved backto Vincennes, Mary Jo became involved in Vincennes University theater. She took a fewclasses at VU, and received raves for parts in Fiddler on the Roof, Music Man, and even awalk-on in Sound of Music that earned the biggest laughs of the performance.Eventually, Mary Jo wanted to do more directing, and with a few other stalwarts in town,founded The Old Town Players Community Theater. Their first productions were in theold seed store on First Street. She loved to talk about that old theater -- no wing space, soto exit off stage you had to go up the stairs to the loft above the stage. She was able toliterally stop Red Skeleton in the street and invite him to the theatre; he visited achildren's theater workshop and performed for the kids, toured the theater, and talked toMary Jo about future plans. The theater moved to Second Street, and eventually to itscurrent home on 5th and Broadway. She starred in many plays throughout her years withOTP, and directed a number of hit shows as well. She was honored several times toreceive the Best Actress award (voted on by the audiences) as well a Best Director onseveral occasions. She won two awards from the Indiana Civic Theatre Association - anacting award for her role as the helpless widow in The Good Doctor and a directingaward for The Dining Room. She was most proud of her performance in The Trip toBountiful and her direction in Noises Off! She served on the board at OTP for numerousyears.Mary Jo was most proud of her children. She cheered them from the stands,applauded them from the audience, and supported them in every way possible, both atschool, at home, and the world beyond. She adored her granddaughter, Kenzie, and wasproud of her grandson, Brady.Mary Jo was also a staunch member of the First United Methodist Church, and herfaith was perhaps one of her most passionate traits. She attended Bible Studies, read herBible faithfully, and loved sharing Scriptures with friends. Shortly before her death, shetold her youngest daughter that she was looking forward to being with Jesus. We knowshe is celebrating there!Mary Jo was also a member of Tri-Kappa (a charity sorority), an alternate at largemember of the State Board of Indiana Theatre League, and a member of the VincennesCivitan Club. She performed in several venues around town, doing special holidayreadings at Gregg Park for children, making PSA for Vincennes, and others. When the USbegan plans to build a Korean War Memorial on the Washington Mall in D.C., Mary Johonored her brother, Richard, who was killed in Korea, by becoming actively involvedwith gathering information to send, and was there for the opening of the memorial. Shealso participated on her brother's behalf by attending some West Point reunions.Mary Jo will always be remembered for her ready smile, her compassionate heart, hergenerous nature, and her laugh. She loved telling jokes, pulling pranks, and teasing thoseshe loved. She had a quick intelligence that could see the humor in almost any situation,and was able to make those around her laugh and feel special. Her impact on her family,friends, and this community will be felt for years to come.Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Vermillion, her parents,George and Becky Inman, and her brothers, Richard and Bob Inman. She is survived byone sister, Bonnie Wright, in Neenah, WI, her children, Debra Vermillion (Burbank, CA),Rene' Vermillion, Richard Vermillion and wife Barbara, and Jo Marie Vermillion, all ofVincennes. Mary Jo is also survived by two grandchildren, Brady Richardson and wifeAya in Tokyo, Japan, and Kenzie Vermillion, Vincennes, IN, as well as numerous niecesand nephews.The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Old Town Players.Viewing will be on Friday, March 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Goodwin Funeral Home 524 Broadway St.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 19, at 10.a.m. at the First UnitedMethodist Church at 4th and Perry Street, Vincennes, IN, the Rev. Paul Wagnerofficiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Online Condolences can be made at Goodwinfamilyfh.com.