She was born in Oakdale, LA. on September 15, 1930 and was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Cryer. Mary Jane graduated from La Grange High School in 1947. She then continued her education, attending Charity School of Nursing in New Orleans. She received her diploma in 1952, and went on to work at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as one of the first registered nurses, two weeks before it opened. She retired after 30 years of working as an Operating Room Nurse.
Mary Jane was a member of East Ridge Baptist Church. She enjoyed teaching preschool aged children in Sunday school for 48 years. Mary Jane will be remembered for her faithfulness in serving God by visiting friends in nursing homes, the homebound, writing letters to the ill, and notes of encouragement. She always stated she had the best job in church as a greeter to visitors. She loved her church family dearly.
She had many things she loved to do in her leisure. Mary Jane was a lover of travel, and her destinations included Israel, Hawaii, Alaska, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. When she wasn’t traveling, she was reading, playing spider solitaire, bean bag baseball, spending time with family, socializing with friends and watching Law & Order, preferably while eating Bluebell Ice Cream.
She is survived by her son, Craig Hensley and wife Donna of Madisonville, LA; two daughters, Nancy Davison of Metairie, LA and Linda Rainwater of Lake Charles, LA, 7 grandchildren, Christopher Amsbaugh, Jami Smith, Dwight and Daniel Davison and Diana Ensminger, Matthew and Danielle Rainwater; and 7 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Hensley.
Services will be held at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 11:00am, with Rev. Alan Weishampel officiating. Visitation will be at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles on Friday, October 1, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Visitation will resume at the funeral home on Saturday, from 9:00am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the East Ridge Baptist Church Building Fund or charity of your choice.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.jehixson.com.
