The Rev. Dr. Mary Jo Zimmerli, 83, died peacefully at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta on February 27, 2014.

Born on February 2, 1931 in Cumberland, Md., she was the daughter of the late Henry and Mary Barnet Morris. At a young age Mary Jo moved to Washington, D.C., where she would attend local schools and graduate from McKinley High School.

After high school, Mary Jo went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from Mt. Saint Mary’s College where she graduated cum laude, then received her RN from Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Soon after she went on to achieve her nurse practitioner’s license in family planning from the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Rounding out her education, she attended Wesley Theological Seminary in 1980, earning her ordination as an elder in the Baltimore Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in June of 1981. She completed her Doctorate of Ministry from Drew University in May of 1990.

Mary Jo held many various positions both in her ministry and in the field of healthcare. Mary Jo was the Chaplain Resident at Sibley Memorial Hospital where she would supervise seminary students and pastors as they would pastor to the hospital patients. She would complete 10 Clinical Pastoral Education units from 1977 to 1982 and held them in various hospitals in and around Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Along with healthcare, her passion lied within the Methodist church. She was the Conference Youth Secretary for the United Methodist Women. Also, with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Robert E. Zimmerli, she put together and directed a mission tour of the southeastern United States for youth in the Baltimore conference as well as directed the first work camp in Mexico again with youth from the Baltimore conference. Mary Jo was also chaplain of the United Methodist Board of Child Care for many years. She held many memberships in a variety of faith based groups and was proud of the work they all accomplished.

Moving to Maine, she immediately began to put her stamp on things around the Boothbay region. She was instrumental in working with St. Andrews Hospital and its auxiliary. She served as the chaplain of the Boothbay Region YMCA for years. Mary Jo also served as pastor at the local Methodist churches, including East Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport.

She loved to give back to the community and she was able to do so in helping with various scholarship committees in the region, always wanting to do things to help out the youth around her. She first sat on a scholarship committee in Baltimore where she held the position of chairperson for the Baltimore Conference. Locally she sat on the YMCA scholarship committee as well as the Boothbay Region Garden Club's scholarship committee.

A caring soul through and through, she touched countless lives along her journey. She will be missed by many and fondly remembered by all that had the pleasure of calling her a friend. She leaves behind a chasm in the region that adopted her as one of their own.

She was predeceased by a nephew, Chris Johnson.

She is survived by a husband of 61 years, Rev. Dr. Robert Zimmerli of East Boothbay; son, Wesley Zimmerli and his wife Lisa of Woodbine, Md.; daughter, Laurie Zimmerli and her partner Ann Prost of Arnold, Md.; sisters, Gail Smith of Arlington, Va. and Joanne Johnson of Arlington, Va.; and nieces and nephews, Tim Smith, Bradley Smith, Kim Goad and Kelly Tafia.

A time of visitation and remembrance will be held on Monday, March 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Simmons Harrington and Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, March 4, at 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor with Rev. Dr. Sarah Foulger and Pastor Ami Sawtelle officiating.

Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the following organizations: Boothbay Region Food Pantry, P.O. Box 63, East Boothbay, ME 04544; Boothbay Region YMCA Scholarship, P.O. Box 500, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538; or to the Boothbay Region Garden Club, P.O. Box 113, Boothbay, ME 04537.

You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons Harrington and Hall, Boothbay.