Mary Jane (Sowers) Branum, 85, of Merriam, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, October 24, 2018, of AngioSarcoma. Affectionately known as Janie, she was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She fought a very rare cancer with such grace and dignity. Not one to complain, she would tell you she tried not to think negative thoughts as they will do no good. If you knew Janie, you loved her. Even through her last days she exuded a gentle and peaceful spirit.
Janie was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to parents Harold and Bernice Sowers. Her mother passed when Janie and her twin sister, Lois Wright, were three and their brother, Ollie Sowers, was six. She always spoke so fondly of her new mother, Grace Sowers, who she called Mommy her whole life.
She was a graduate of Shawnee Mission Rural High School, class of ’51. During high schoo,l she and her twin worked at “The Dime Store” in Brookside, then she worked for General Electric in downtown Kansas City after graduation. As a wife and homemaker, she also spent some years working in the cafeterias at Trailridge and Milburn Junior High Schools.
Janie was a woman who served others, and a role model to those who knew her.
She loved music. Her first pay check went to purchase a piano. As an accomplished pianist and organist, she brought joy to many through her music. She taught piano lessons, played for weddings and funerals, and was organist at Olivet Baptist Church. She enjoyed playing for the primary children in Sunday School at First Baptist of Shawnee. She loved teaching others the love of music and playing. She played and sang duets with her twin sister.
She loved visiting her brother’s family in California, making a visit in each month of the year over time.
As an avid gardener, she tended her flowers and yard every day. She kept the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks well fed. And she loved giraffes.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, David; son, Mark; daughter, Susan Williamson (Gary); son, Kirk (Joy); daughter, Colette Harris (Iain); grandchildren, Jessica, James, Jonathan and Phoebe; great-grandchildren, Kaden, Hunter, Joshua, Delaney and Bradford; nieces, Janice, Carolyn, and Trina; and nephews, Steve, Craig and Jeff; sister-in-law, Joyce and her BFF, Phyllis.
Visitation will be held at McGilley & Hoge Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kansas, on Saturday, November 3, at 10:00 a.m. with funeral service following at Noon.
The family would like to express our sincerest thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Dr. Powers’ team at KU Med, Kansas City Hospice, and Sisters Servants of Mary of Kansas City, Kansas. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to those organizations.
