Mary Joan "Mary Jo" Snyder Holland (1933-2025) passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23 due to complications from a stroke. She was born in Paintsville, Kentucky on August 10, 1933 to Mary Kathryn "Kitty" and George "Perry" Snyder. After moving to Lexington, Kentucky, she attended Lafayette High School where she was a cheerleader. On June 1, 1957, she married Charles Edwin Holland and they had three children: Tamara Marie, Kimberly Kathryn and Keith Edwin.

Mary Jo's favorite thing was dancing. She worked for Barbara Ann School of Dance and then, as a young unmarried woman, she owned her own dance studio. After marrying Charles, she created a dance studio in her home. When her children were grown, Mary Jo continued her love of dancing by creating dance groups everywhere she went. She created the "Ranchettes" (a senior dance group) in Rancho Carlsbad, California and continued teaching dance upon her return to Lexington Kentucky by creating the "Energizers" Dance Group through Lexington Athletic Club. These groups all performed at nursing homes on a regular basis, bringing joy to the residents. The "Energizers" performed in Branson, Missouri several times as well as in other venues throughout her time with them.

Mary Jo was a fixture in the Lexington, Kentucky community. She served in many ways: by choreographing the opening numbers to the Miss Lexington Pageant for many years, as well as coaching those who chose dance as their talent; serving as a Pink Lady in hospitals, and was involved in many other volunteer activities. Everywhere she went, she would run into someone that she knew, and she was friendly and kind with everyone, regardless of whether she knew them or not. She was very well known and beloved to all Lexingtonians.

Mary Jo is preceded in death by her husband, Charles. She is survived by her three children: Tamara (DL) Lobb, Kimberly (Dennis) Noble and Keith (Shannon) Holland, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Milward - Southland located at 391 Southland Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, on Friday, March 28 from 5:00-7:00 pm. We ask that in lieu of flowers, you send donations to Bluegrass Care Navigators - Hospice, who lovingly cared for her until the end. You can donate at https://www.bgcarenav.org/give. To share a remembrance of Mary Jo or to offer condolences to her family, please visit milwardfuneral.com to sign the tribute portion of her obituary page.