Mary Jane Kahao

Mary Jane passed away peacefully to "go to her reward" surrounded by her loving family. A resident of St. James Place, she was 88. Mary Jane was born July 17, 1924 in Shanghai, China, the eldest child of William Anthony Fly, a naval officer from McComb, Mississippi, and Edythe Clarice Redmond Fly of Nova Scotia, Canada. She received her undergraduate degree in Music from Sophie Newcomb College and was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She later went on to receive two masters: one in Library Science from LSU and later in Children's Literature from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She worked at LSU for 18 years. She married Kenneth Hanson Kahao, a naval officer, of Allendale Plantation, West Baton Rouge Parish, and moved to Allendale after World War II. They resided at their home on their beloved Allendale for 62 years where they raised four children and often cared for their nine grandchildren. Mary Jane was an extraordinary woman, mother, daughter, wife, grandmother and friend to many. Her entire life was dedicated to the nurturing and teaching her children to become productive members of society. Her second passion was her sense of duty to her community. To that end, she served as President of the Baton Rouge Junior League, the West Baton Rouge Garden Club and the West Baton Rouge Museum among others. She was one of the founding members of the West Baton Rouge Historical Association and Louisiana Public Broadcasting. She served on numerous boards including Cancer Services of Baton Rouge, Old State Capital Associates, Magnolia Cemetery, Baton Rouge Symphony, Family Counseling and the West Baton Rouge Parish Museum. Her great love of the arts and especially music was reflected in the many volunteer programs she either created or participated in, including the Friends of the LSU Library and the establishment of the first music program for the elementary schools of West Baton Rouge Parish. Throughout her life, Mary Jane also remained a staunch supporter for the preservation of the history of the agriculture and cultural heritage of Louisiana. In 2010, she received the Louis Wyatt Bannon service award. Mary Jane's dedication to her community did not stop with her retirement. Once a resident at St. James Place, she quickly became involved in the community there. She signed up to be on the grounds committee where she got the Camellia Society involved with the beautiful camellias on the property, served as hall monitor, played bridge and was one of the founding members of the "Snazzy Singers" at St. James. Her death marks the end of an era, but her children, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren will carry on her great legacy. Preceded in death by her father, William Anthony Fly, mother, Edythe Clarice Kearney, step-father, James Patrick Kearney, and husband, Kenneth Hanson Kahao. She is survived by sisters Ann Fly Davis, her husband Sam, and Patsy Kearney Harlow; brother, Bill Fly and wife Sandy; brother-in-law, Charles Baad Kaho; children, Martin James Kahao III and wife Alison Hentges, Kenneth Hanson Kahao, Jr. and fiancée Cindy J. Rogers, Eve Kahao Gonzalez and Roger William Kahao; grandchildren, Kristopher Redmond Kahao and wife Kendra, Kenneth Adolfo Schmalbach, Amber Dawn Kahao Anderson and husband Dustin Anderson, Hays Hanson Kahao, Warren James Kahao, Megan Clair Kahao, Christina Margarita Gonzalez, Fernando Daniel Gonzalez, Sara Alicia Kahao, Rebeka Slocum; and great grandchildren, Benjamin Mockwa, Mary Catherine Stice, Adelyn Hays Kahao, Scarlett Emma Anderson and Carter Grace Kahao. Visitation is in the parish hall at St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until service in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. Private family burial at Magnolia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to thehttp://media2.legacy.com/adlink/5306/1500746/0/3380/AdId=1103286;BnId=1;itime=280320107;ku=1192175;key=ACS;nodecode=yes;link=https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/donateonlinenow/Legacy/index?dn=mem&fn=Mary&ln=Kahao" target="_new" title="Donate Now">American Cancer Society, 10528 Kentshire Ct., Baton Rouge, 70810, National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave, Bob Hope Road, Miami FL 33136, or http://www.parkinson.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.parkinson.org" target="_blank">www.parkinson.org; St. James Episcopal Church, 205 N. 5th Street, Baton Rouge, 70801, St. Joseph's Hospice, 10615 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, 70809, West Baton Rouge Museum, 845 N. Jefferson Ave., Port Allen, 70767, or thehttp://media2.legacy.com/adlink/5306/1500746/0/3380/AdId=1862389;BnId=1;itime=280320451;ku=1349329;key=COYCADA;nodecode=yes;link=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/condolences-charities.aspx?keyword=coycada&pid=165516032" target="_self" title="">charity of your choice.