Findlay, matriarch of Southwest auto empire, dies at 77

Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 | 11:14 a.m.

Mary Jo Findlay, a native Nevadan and matriarch of a family that for five decades has operated award-winning auto dealerships in Las Vegas and Henderson, died Wednesday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital-Siena. She was 77.

Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary Eastern, followed by a 6 p.m. interment at Palm Valley View Cemetery.

Although not an official with the company like her husband Pete Findlay and sons Cliff Findlay, a one-time University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball star, and Ed Findlay, the family credits May Jo as being a significant force in its success.

"She was the glue that held the family together," said Tyler Corder, chief financial officer for the Findlay Management Group and treasurer of one of Mary Jo's favorite charities, Safe Nest.

"She and her family have been very involved in the community since the early 1960s and at one time or another she helped nearly every charity in town."

Pete Findlay, who began in the automobile dealership business in his native Panaca, came to Las Vegas with his family in the late 1950s and started with two small used car lots.

In 1961 the Findlays were granted an Oldsmobile franchise to compete against the Cashman family's Cadillac dealership and vie for a share of the large-size car market in Southern Nevada.

The Olds dealership on many occasions won the Oldsmobile national Elite 100 award for volume sales, as well as the Service Merit Award for distinguished service to customers.

That flagship dealership of the company that has more than a dozen Southwest dealerships, long operated as Findlay Oldsmobile-Saab. This year it changed its name to Findlay Cadillac-Saab.

From the 1960s to the present, the business has extended to several other car dealerships -- many foreign models -- as well as car insurance and leasing subsidies. The company also has leased mining equipment, telephone systems, computers and airplanes.

The Oldsmobile dealership long operated at 3024 E. Fremont St., which today is the site of the company's body shop.

Many of the Findlay-owned dealerships, including Findlay Cadillac-Saab and the Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen stores, now operate in the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson.

Mary Jo Findlay was born Sept. 16, 1925, in Caliente.

In addition to her husband, and two sons, all of Henderson, Findlay is survived by a daughter, Karen Hohl of Carson City; a brother, Bruce Kutcher of Panaca; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

The family said donations can be made in Findlay's memory to the Las Vegas chapter of the American Cancer Society or Safe Nest.