Mary Jane White Paulson

Mary Jane White Paulson passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18th in Tallahassee, FL. Mary Jane is survived by her sons, Leo, Crawfordville, FL, and Mark (Maria), San Francisco, CA; daughters, Jane (Milton) Martin, Crawfordville, FL and Jill (Skip) Berger of Margarita, Panama; daughter-in-law, Cindy of Tallahassee; and son-in-law Wilson McCray of Fort Myers; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren from across the country who loved and adored her dearly. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leigh C. “Cash”; son, Mike; and daughter, Judy Weaver.

She had a wonderful life of 96 years, born on April 24, 1923 in Ancon, Panama Canal Zone to Walter and Helen White. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1941. She married Cash in 1946 after his return from his Navy tour in WWII Pacific Theater, in his hometown Corry, PA. They had two small children when they decided to go back to the Canal Zone for a visit which lasted 30 years. They raised their six children in Gatun, Panama Canal Zone. Mary Jane and Cash retired to Tallahassee in 1978 surrounded by their growing family. Mary Jane and Cash opened their home to everyone; they were known for having “The Grand Central Station” for family and friends to gather.

Mary Jane enjoyed several hobbies such as sewing, collecting recipes, cooking, baking, puzzles, and hosting family parties. Mary Jane loved having a large family and always enjoyed a full house. Cash and Mary Jane instilled in each one of their children and grandchildren that family is most important, and to be a “Paulson” was something to be proud of.

Mary Jane also had a “license to talk” - she received her Amateur Radio License in 1969. In 1976 she was awarded an Honorary Public Service Award for her humanitarian efforts connecting families with their loved ones in the U.S. Her son Mike researched the Canal Zone Ham Operators Archives and created KZ5LAND website in 2013 for QSL collections (KZ5LAND.wixsite.com for more information).

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 8 at 1:00pm at the Lewiswood Farm, 4500 Natural Bridge Road, Woodville, 32305. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Mary Jane’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Panama Canal Zone Museum at their website https://www.uff.ufl.edu/give-now/?fund_id=020869

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Tapestry Assisted Living Walden, Dr. Florence Bamgbose and Big Bend Hospice staff for their care and dedication.