Mary Jane Meyer

Mary Jane Meyer, age 89, passed away at her home on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Mary Jane was born Feb. 22, 1920 in Kansas City, Mo., to Roy G. and Mary Janet McGuire Sanders. She wed Lawrence E. Meyer on Jan. 11, 1947 and was married to him for 41 years until his death in 1988. They were the parents of eight children.

In addition to her husband, Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Roy G. Sanders Jr., who was killed in World War II. At one time her father had been a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball teams; her uncle was Joe Sanders of the Coon-Sanders Orchestra.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Janet and Marshall Miller; Lawrence Meyer; Mary Suzanne Meyer; Joseph and Diane Meyer; Mark and Dianna Meyer; Deborah and James Bird; Laurie and David Hathman and Brigid and Stephen Oberkrom. She leaves 13 grandchildren: Bryan and Steven Meyer and Jennifer Meyer Howerton; Jonathan and Daniel Miller; Sam and Erin Meyer; Mary Kate, Madalyne and David Bird and Matthew, Joshua and Christopher Oberkrom. She is also survived by her cousins, Mr. Raymond McGuire, Overland Park; Mrs. James Denison of Pasadena, Ca., and Ms. Jeanne Maxey of Santa Barbara, Ca., as well as her sister-in-law, Mrs. Paul Meyer, Olathe.

The public visitation will be Thursday June 11 at McGilley Midtown Chapel 5:30-8 PM with recitation of the Rosary at 7 PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at Visitation Church on Friday June 12 at 10 AM. Interment will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery.

Mary Jane graduated from Loretto Academy in 1937 and attended the College of St. Joseph (now Avila University). She was a gifted pianist who left a life-long love of music to her family. She possessed a keen intelligence, a dry wit and a gentle spirit. She was a notorious night owl to her family and friends.

Mary Jane was the consummate caregiver, attending not only to the needs of her husband and children, but numerous members of her extended family. Throughout her life she always put the needs of those she loved before her own. Her faith sustained her on her life’s journey and in the last years of her life as she faced the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations can be made to the Lawrence and Mary Jane Meyer Scholarship which was established in their honor at St. Teresa’s Academy, 5600 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., 64112.