Mary Jane "MJ" (Brooks) Blankenship

Mary Jane, lovingly referred to as MJ, was born on August 24, 1954 in Logan, West Virginia, to Alfred and Ruby Brooks. She married her high school sweetheart, Wendell Scott Blankenship, in Virginia on October 24, 1970, before continuing north to settle in Lansing, Michigan. They shared 53 wonderful years together raising their three children before Wendell's passing on June 4, 2024. MJ found the greatest joy in being a dedicated stay-at-home mom in her early years before entering the workforce as a billing clerk in Dr. Lamond's dental office for the next 25 years.

Mary Jane had a zest for life, a laugh that could fill a room, and a smile that rarely left her face. She loved traveling the world with Wendell, playing on the floor with her grandkids, creating music on the piano or any other instrument she could get her hands on, and growing plants from any seed leftover from dinner the night before. She was particularly proud of the tiny pineapple she grew, in Michigan of all places. She could play a mean game of Tetris and once got in trouble for singing Amazing Grace to the tune of House of the Rising Sun at church camp.

Remaining here to cherish Mary Jane's memory are her children, Stephanie (Paul) Dean, Mary Beth (Donnie) Mancuso, and Scott (Bethany) Blankenship; grandchildren, Kyle (Jen), Taylor, Mason, Braydon, McKenzie, Tyler, Blade, Cassidy (Nate), Macy, and Fletcher; and great-grandchildren, Autumn and August.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Wendell; parents, Alfred and Ruby; brothers, Roger and Larry; sister, Elizabeth "Libby"; and niece, Carrie.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Tiffany Chapel, 3232 W Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48917.