Mary Jane Kemmer, age 82, formerly of Cardington, died peacefully on Friday morning, August 31, 2012, at her home at the Kingston Residence in Marion surrounded by her loving family following an extended illness.
On August 17, 1930, Mary Jane was born at home on the family farm in Chesterville, the second of six children of the late Albert and Florence (Reynolds) Nauman. She graduated from Chesterville High School in the Class of 1948.
Shortly following graduation, Mary Jane married a young gentleman who had already returned home from serving his country in World War II, Curtis Carroll “Jack” Kemmer, on February 11, 1949, at the Chester Baptist Church. Always hand in hand, together they shared over sixty two wonderful years of marriage, and lovingly raised three children: Dennis, Becky and Vicki. He preceded her in death on April 9, 2011.
For the first few years of their marriage, Mary Jane and Jack lived in Mount Vernon, where she worked as a telephone operator for the General Telephone Company, until they found the farm of their dreams in Cardington, where they resided for nearly the rest of their lives.
A loving homemaker, Mary Jane took the very best care of her husband and children and their home. She kept such a tidy home that she even had a “no dirty clothes” rule, where as soon as someone was done wearing something it immediately would be washed and returned to it’s proper place. She also was a wonderful cook, always making her family’s favorite meals.
When her children were in high school, Mary Jane returned to work at the Chesterville Nursing Home, doing what she was best at, caring for the needs of others. Later, she also worked for many years at the Leaf Restaurant, where she was their hostess, waitress, and catch all person, doing anything the Gordon’s asked her to do. She was a hard working woman, who always gave everything her all.
A woman of faith, Mary Jane was a devoted member of the Chester Baptist Church, where she used to play the piano.
Always fussing over you, as soon as you became a friend of Mary Jane, she would treat you as if you were family. She had a heart of gold, and always showed you how much she cared for you with her hands, taking care of you any way she could.
Mary Jane will be dearly missed by her three children: Dennis (Carolyn) Kemmer of Marion, Becky (Raymond) Erickson of Woodstock, Georgia, and Vicki (Kent) Dyer of Charlotte, North Carolina; three grandsons: Nathan Erickson, Adam Dyer, and Jonathan Dyer; three great-grandchildren: Caleigh Grace, Andrew Curtis, and Caitlin Elizabeth Dyer; two sisters and one brother: Betty Stevens of Marion, Anna Mae Sherman of Lexington, and Kenneth Nauman of Mount Vernon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including her husband and parents, Mary Jane was preceded in death by two brothers: Paul and Harold Nauman.
The Kemmer family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at the Snyder Funeral Home, Craven Chapel, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services celebrating her life will also be held there on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., with her niece Julie Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Chesterville.
Memorial contributions may be made in care of Acclaim Hospice or the Kingston Residence Memory Care Unit, c/o Baking Classes, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Her family would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to Mary Jane’s sister, Betty, always being there for her and taking her to church as often as she could. They also would like to thank all of the staff at the Kingston Residence Memory Care Unit and Acclaim Hospice for their tender and loving care of Mary Jane.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Mary Jane’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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