Mary Jane Davis

She was born on January 31, 1931 in Johnson City, NY to the late Albert and Bernice Beurket. She was the eldest of 5 children. She spent her childhood in Johnson City, graduated from Johnson City High School in 1949. She graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, MD in 1953 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Biology.

She returned to Johnson City to become an elementary school teacher where she married the late William E. Davis of Binghamton, NY. They were married on July 2, 1955.

After marriage, Mary Jane moved with her husband “Bill” to Buffalo NY and Houston TX, before winding up in Anaheim CA, to start a family. She put teaching on hold to raise 5 children with her husband. Mary Jane’s family moved numerous times before settling in Raleigh NC in 1978.

Mary Jane returned to teaching science at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Raleigh, NC. She was very devoted to her students and helped them prepare for many NC statewide & national annual Science Olympiad competitions. She was involved in various civic & religious organizations such as Keep NC Beautiful and Catholic Parish Outreach. After retiring from teaching, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels of Wake County, Catholic Charities Food Pantry and the Center for Volunteer Caregiving.

She loved the natural world and took many steps toward improving the environment. She loved gardening. She also enjoyed needlepoint, macramé and sewing, as well as creating art in various mediums. She was a gourmet cook and took great pleasure in taking care of her family.

Mary Jane was pre-deceased by her husband of 47 years, William E. Davis, Sr.; her sister Carolyn Lawver; and her parents. She is survived by her five children, William Davis, Jr. and his wife Gloria Davis of Southport, NC, Stephen Davis and his wife Teresa Davis of Pittsboro, NC, Peter Davis and his wife Stephanie (“Stevie”) of Roeland Park, KS, Sarah Davis and her fiancé Philip Herndon of Wake Forest, NC, and Andrew Davis of Jonas Ridge, NC; two grandchildren, Emily Davis (Stephen & Teresa), Alana Davis (William & Gloria); one sister, Jeannie O’Connor of Sarasota, FL, two brothers, Gerald Beurket and his wife, Mary Margaret Beurket, James Beurket and his wife Gayle Beurket, both of Binghamton, NY.

The family would like to especially thank her loving and compassionate caregivers: Delores, Donna and Mae and also to Transitions of Wake County.

A visitation will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 from 6-8 pm. A Celebration of Life Memorial Mass will be given at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2710 Overbrook Drive, Raleigh, NC, on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 10 am, reception at Fallon Center followed by burial at Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Wake County, Raleigh, NC, Catholic Parish Outreach, Raleigh, NC and Triangle Aphasia Project.