Mary Jane (Brown) Zumalt

Mary Jane (Brown) Zumalt, 91 passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at The Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, Kansas. The daughter of Raymond Wensley and Edna Irene (Harris) Brown was born May 3,1932. She met the love of her life, John Ronald Zumalt while growing up in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas. Graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1950. After Graduation she enrolled in Kansas University to major in music and art. While at Kansas University she pledged to Tri-Delta Sorority. Her second year at college she found out that her boyfriend was being sent to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas for Army Boot Camp. John surprised her at K.U. by proposing marriage.

The courtship between John and Mary Jane was the beginning of a 60-year marriage. John would buy Mary Jane clowns starting a lifetime clown collection. During their courtship they would often share a date at a soda fountain or ice cream parlor to share an iced cold Coca Cola or cherry phosphate. Throughout their lifetime they began collecting coke collections at craft and antique shows. Mary Jane collected and inherited antique jewelry, Madame Alexander dolls, Kewpie Dolls, ring holders and cats. Above her living room sofa a portrait of a giant white cat greeted her guests. John would add Wizard of Oz and Disney to this collection. After their children were grown they spent much of their leisure time scouting craft and antique malls and shows.

Both Mary Jane and John were avid readers. They loved movies, mysteries and music theater. Every year the couple put their artistic talents to work entering the Botanical Gardens Photography contest. John spent hours taking pictures at the gardens while Mary Jane created the perfect matting and frame. Their work was often on display at The Botanical Gardens in Wichita.

John and Mary Jane were married November 16,1953 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Their wedding picture hung in a photography studio for everyone to view.

They began their married life in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. When John’s service ended they moved to Emporia, Kansas so John could complete his teaching degree while working as a Graduate Assistant at Emporia University. Mary Jane went back to live with her parents in Hutchinson for the March 4, 1956 arrival of their baby daughter, Cynthia Jo. Soon after Cindy arrived John was offered a teaching and coaching position at USD 259 Wichita, Kansas. A few moves later they made their home on Boston Street in SE Wichita. On January 10, 1959 they welcomed a son, Brian Raymond Zumalt. Their family was complete.

Mary Jane was an active parent involved completely in both her children’s lives. Perfecting her mother’s strawberry poke cake and her signature pork chops with mustard and brown sugar. She never missed a game or activity. When the children arrived Wichita did not have a zoo. Mary Jane joined a group of women who successfully fought and opened what is now known as The Sedgwick County Zoo. She and John frequented the zoo and adopted zoo animals assuring it would remain open for future generations.

When the children grew older Mary Jane took a position at McLeod’s Bookstore at Towne East. Working up to heading and buying children’s books for the children’s division. She stayed active singing in the choir at Grace Lutheran Church and keeping active in her children’s lives. She continued antique and craft shows long after the children moved away. She and John continued their memberships with the zoo, the Botanical Garden, the art museum, and added more traveling.

She and John fell in love with Indian Point on Table Rock Lake. They loved having the whole family join them at Indian Point. Their favorite Tea Room was Mary Jane’s and they loved sitting on their balcony overlooking Table Rock Lake. John and Mary Jane never missed a High School reunion at Hutchinson. Visiting Mary Jane’s cousins especially flea shopping in What Cheer, Iowa. Mary Jane, John and cousin, Rita started a tradition of sending each other any form of sheep or lamb.

They enjoyed festivals at Lindsborg, the Belle Plain Tulip Festival, River Festival, and stopping by Yoder on the way to Hutchinson for an Amish meal. Mary Jane loves]d their chicken noodle soup and raisin pie. She loved to shop in their gift shop and bring home baked bread. Mary Jane never stopped loving soda fountains or grabbing a coke or cherry phosphate. She loved NuWay Burgers with an iced cold root beer. Her favorite restaurant was Spear’s. Whether she was having quiche, soup and salad or enjoying a Sunday Buffet after church with the family.

Mary Jane was a gifted musician with a lovely voice. Growing up singing in a choir, studying music at K.U., and finally owning her very own baby grand piano. The top of her baby grand often sported a clown, a cat or two mixed in with tons of her favorite family photos. When the Grandchildren were little she tried teaching each of them a special tune.

She and John continued to love music, movies, books, Hallmark movies and mysteries. They started going back to Colorado on trips. When Mary Jane was a young girl she and her parents rode horses at Bald Pate. Her favorite activity of all was being with her children and Grandchildren.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Edna Brown; her husband, John Ronald Zumalt; and her cat, Olive. Her survivors include her daughter, Cynthia Jo (Steven) Schroeder of Derby, Kansas; her son, Brian (Gwendolyn) Zumalt of Independence, Missouri; her grandchildren, Tamara Doesken of Wichita, Kansas, Richard Doesken of Wichita, Kansas and Kera Nicole Zumalt of Independence, Missouri. She leaves behind many cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.

Funeral service was postponed do to weather and a new service is currently pending. Burial was held at Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family request memorial contributions in Mary Jane's memory be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Wichita, 611 South Erie Street, Wichita, Kansas 67211 And/Or the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 North Hillside Street, Wichita, Kansas 67219.