Services were held April 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson for Mary Jane Blair, 86, of Jefferson, formerly of Paton.
Words of comfort were offered by Pastor Dennis Martens. Wendy Pittman of First Presbyterian Church in Paton was lector and Cathy Lee Fredrickson gave the eulogy. Peg Raney was guitarist and Mark Erickson was organist. Honorary bearers were Nikki Goughnour, Jill Hayes, Laura Walker, Jennifer Steinfeldt, Cathy Lee Frederickson, Jessica Goughnour and Audrey Walker.
Casket bearers were Jay Goughnour, William Hayes V, Jason Walker, Steve Steinfeldt, Jeremiah Goughnour and Grant Walker. Interment was at the Paton Township Cemetery near Paton.
Mary Jane Blair, 86, of Jefferson, died Sunday, April 7, 2019, at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. The daughter of Thomas and Dorothy Rundle, Mary Jane was born October 15, 1932, in Paton, and graduated from Paton Consolidated School in 1950. On November 26, 1950, she married Lyle L. Blair at the First Presbyterian Church in Paton. They enjoyed nearly 58 years together.
After Lyle was discharged from the Marine Corps, they returned to Paton and began farming. Lyle and Mary Jane lived and farmed northeast of Paton from 1957 to 1980, when they moved into the town of Paton. Mary Jane loved to be in the kitchen and was known to cook and bake delicious meals that she loved to share with others. She was known for her hospitality. In 1972 and 1983, Lyle and Mary Jane opened their homes to foreign exchange students from Brazil. Cristina and Claudia became members of the family and continued to keep in touch until her passing.
Mary Jane was known as an avid reader, reading most of the books in the Paton Library. If she wasn’t reading, she was sewing or doing embroidery. She enjoyed making quilts for her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Mary Jane was also a life-long member of the Paton Presbyterian Church, and participated in various Bible studies. She cherished the fellowship she had with those groups.
In 2010, Mary Jane moved to Jefferson. There she volunteered to read to school children with her good friend Mary Jane Fields. She enjoyed sharing her love of books and reading, and the children loved having the “Mary Jane Readers” visit them at school.
Surviving Mary Jane are her daughter Loretta (Brent) Goughnour of Jefferson and children Jay (Nikki) Goughnour, Jill (William V) Hayes, Jennifer (Steve) Steinfeldt, and Jeremiah (Jessica) Goughnour; daughter Lisa (Jack) Fredrickson of Jefferson and daughters Laura (Jason) Walker and Cathy Lee Fredrickson; great-grandchildren Taylor, Cole, and Megan Goughnour, Will VI, Olivia, Sean, and Tobin Hayes, Brooklyn Steinfeldt, Landyn, Lyndsie and Levi Goughnour, and Bryce and Blair Walker; brother Dr. James Rundle of Indianola; sisters-in-law Donna Blair of Jefferson and Anita Rundle of Americus, GA; and many nieces and nephews. Additional family members that called her Mom and Grandma were George and Laurie Walker of Paton, Grant (Samantha) Walker and daughter Margo, and Audrey Walker, along with Cristina Amaral and Claudia Querioz of Brazil.
Those who preceded her in death were her husband Lyle, her parents Thomas and Dorothy Rundle, sister Shirley Currie and brother Dr. T.J. Rundle.
Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home.
