Jo Ellen McLean passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Sept. 21, 2024. She was two weeks away from celebrating her 92nd birthday. 

Jo was born on Oct. 8, 1932, to Jose and Doris Leniz of Paradise Valey, Nev. She was the ninth of 10 children and was given the name Jaunita Leniz by her birth parents. After her birth father died of Pneumonia when she was three years old, Jo’s mother could not financially support 10 children on her own. Jo and her older sister, Helen, were adopted by Harrison and Ella Grove of Denio, Nev.,when she was four-years-old. They told her that she seemed more like “Jo” and gave her the name Jo Ellen Grove.

Jo had a beautiful childhood in Denio, helping her parents run the town mercantile and hotel. Jo attended St. Teresa’s Academy Catholic all-girls boarding school in Boise for high school. After graduating high school in 1950, she married Delmer McLean of Fields. On Sept. 10, 1951, she gave birth to their first and only child, Ronald Clifford (Cliff) McLean. Together, Delmer and Jo ranched in Fields and Diamond for 44 years. In 1994, Delmer passed away after a long battle with cancer. Jo continued to operate their ranch in Diamond before selling and moving to Burns in 1998.

On Valentine’s Day of 1999, Jo was set-up on a blind date with Bernie Hayes by their best friends. They had an immediate connection. Jo moved to Bend in September of 1999 to be with Bernie and live near her grandchildren who also lived in Bend. She lived in Bend the remainder of her life.

Jo was a hard-working ranch wife, loving grandmother and special friend to many. She played piano by ear and could often be found entertaining her friends by the piano at the Aspen Ridge retirement home. Jo loved to tell stories and spend time with her two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. 

Jo is survived by her sister, Jean McDonald of Winnemucca, Nev.; grandson, Dan McLean (wife Kristine) of Redmond; granddaughter, Dena Hovey (husband Donald) of Burns; great-granddaughters, Emily McLean, Karina Stone (husband Hunter) and Julia McLean; and great-great grandson Briggs Stone. Jo is preceded in death by her husband, Delmer McLean; long-time partner, Bernie Hayes; son, Cliff McLean; her parents; and her eight older siblings, whom she remained in touch with after being adopted.