Mary Jane Landis

Mary Jane Thomas Landis slipped peacefully home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 26, 2020 at the age of 85. Her husband and children were blessed to spend her last days with her, comforting her and talking to her as she made her final journey.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Bruce (Diane) of Tampa FL; Patricia Honsalek (Peter) of Johns Creek GA, and Laurie Tafoya (Dan) of San Antonio TX; brothers, Henry (Carolyn) and Amos Thomas (Betty) both of Greencastle IN, and sister-in-law Karen Ripperger (Rip) of Wichita Falls TX; grandchildren, Brandon Honsalek (Jessica) of Loganville GA; Preston Landis (Dhyan Bhakti) of Denver CO; Brittany Wiemer (Ed) of Cumming GA; Stuart Landis of Tampa FL; Mary Frances Morgan (Kevin) of Shreveport LA; Jana Tafoya of Austin TX; and Leah Tafoya of San Antonio TX; as well as great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and childhood friend Sharon Stutler.

Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Joe James and Hazel Thomas, her brothers John and Noel, and sisters-in-law Mary, Jessie, Shirley, and Marialyce.

Mary Jane was born on June 19, 1935 in Clinton, Indiana to Joe James and Hazel Gross Thomas. She grew up on a farm near Rockville IN, surrounded by cornfields and apple orchards. She watched her dad and older brothers boil down maple syrup in the spring and then helped her mother with making applesauce in the summer. In high school, she played the trombone in the band and excelled in 4-H competitions of dressmaking and other sewing crafts; she also won ribbons at the Parke County Fair for making jams and jellies. After graduating from Rockville High School in 1953, she then went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in home economics from Indiana State University in 1957. She married William J. Landis, her college sweetheart, in 1956.

While Bill served in the Air Force, Mary Jane taught school. Following in a rich family tradition that she passed on to her daughter and granddaughter, Mary Jane taught seventh grade language arts and third grade. After briefly living in California, Texas, Indiana, and New Jersey, Mary Jane and Bill settled in south Florida where they began raising their family of three children and became part of the communities of Palm Bible Chapel, Faith Bible Chapel, the Lake Worth Bible Study Group, King’s Academy, and the Shaklee organization. In later years, she was a substitute teacher at several public and private schools, but truly she was a teacher her whole life, guiding and encouraging others. Her children remember her as a kind, nurturing mother who inspired them to pursue their goals and to live for God.

Many may not know that Mary Jane was an artist and had created a number of paintings in early adulthood, but her artistry also flourished in sewing clothing and home decor, and in cooking amazing meals for her family and friends. She taught her daughters and granddaughters how to cook and sew, and passed on the love of genealogy and the stories of her Indiana ancestors.

Mary Jane loved her family in Indiana and treasured her frequent visits “back home” to spend time with her parents, brothers, and lifelong friends, particularly the Rockville Class of 1953. She was passionate about her involvement with Bible studies, prayer meetings, flowers, garden clubs, and her grandchildren. For many years she was an active member of the Hiawassee Garden Club, Christ Fellowship Church, and the Pratt & Whitney Retirees Club. She was always involved in organizing family reunions, class reunions, retirees’ brunches, travel club excursions, and any kind of luncheon, brunch, or dinner party!

One of Mary Jane’s great delights was the world travels she and Bill enjoyed. They travelled to far-flung, exotic locations--Great Britain, Europe, China, Australia, Mexico, Russia--with their travel group, with whom they maintained enduring friendships even after their travel years were over. Mary Jane and Bill also exchanged homes with couples in England and Germany, embracing those particular communities for weeks at a time.

Once Bill retired, he and Mary Jane spent part of each year in Hiawassee GA at their vacation cabin, becoming involved in the community there as they built and remodeled their little mountain estate. Mary Jane joined the Hiawassee Garden Club, the McConnell Baptist Church prayer group, and frequented the public library, Music on the Square, events in Blairsville, dinner at the college in Young Harris, Old Shooting Creek Baptist Church, and senior center events. She cherished her summers in the mountains, particularly when her children and grandchildren visited and when she sat with her Bible gazing at the “Million Dollar View.”

To everyone, Mary Jane was kind and generous, friendly and courageous. In later years, as Alzheimer’s disease increased its grip on her, she still maintained her connection with friends, loved ones, and fellow church members through encouraging letters, cards, and phone calls. She never stopped reaching out to make others feel happy, loved, and cared for, even when she strolled through Publix with Bill or one of her daughters; she still would stop to visit with strangers and neighbors, and made them feel special.

But perhaps the most important impact that Mary Jane had on all her loved ones was her prayers. She lifted each of us, by name, in prayer to God daily, specifically, consistently, and whenever a new concern or need arose. She often knew somehow that one of us was going through a difficult time, and she would call us and pray with us over the phone. This same soothing balm extended to other loved ones and dear friends, and she saw God’s grace and intervention as a vital ingredient in her love and concern for others. Her own decisions and worries were bathed in prayer as well, and we have no doubt that she is organizing a prayer group in heaven today.

As Mary Jane finished her time here on earth, her son Bruce was reading Psalm 119; the last verse she heard was 153, which says, “Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions.” (NLT) It could not have been more fitting for a mother, wife, and friend who gave her whole life to God, her family, and God’s children.

The family would like to specifically thank the caregivers of Edwards Third Floor at Morselife--Mickelange, Angelina, Robin, Alucienne, Latikki, Sharika, Naderge, Monica, Marise, and so many others--for their special attention and kindness to not only Mary Jane but her family as well, especially during the very stressful and isolating challenges of 2020: they have served as Mary Jane’s surrogate family during these trying months. Even to the end, she was known to thank these ladies as they cared for her. We’re not sure if there literally are angels on earth, but if there are, they are working at Morselife on the Third Floor of Edwards!

We are full of gratitude to God for sharing Mary Jane with us for these 85 years, and we are overwhelmed by the lovely sentiments friends and family have already shared with us.

In view of travel logistics and Covid-19 challenges, we are honoring Mary Jane with a virtual Celebration of Life this Saturday, January 2nd, on Zoom, at Mary Jane's Zoom Celebration, and we hope that you can join us! Another celebration will be held later in June in North Georgia on her birthday, with details to follow. Final interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.

In lieu of flowers, we are sure that Mary Jane would be pleased with a donation to either the Morselife Foundation, which provides compassionate care to seniors, regardless of income: https://morselifefoundation.org/donate-today/, or Christ Fellowship Church: Christ Fellowship Church (choose Palm Beach Gardens Campus, Heart for the House). If you desire, checks can be sent to Christ Fellowship, Attn: Financial Dept, Lieu of Flowers in Memory of Jane Landis, 5343 Northlake Blvd, Palm Beach Gardens FL 33418.

Final arrangements are being handled by Aycock-Riverside Funeral Center, Jupiter FL.