1916
Mary
2009
Mary Jane Stilwell
March 27, 1916 — August 16, 2009
Mary Jane Stilwell, 93, passed away Sunday, August 16, 2009. She was born in Chicago, IL and was a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area. Her mother died of complications from childbirth, and she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Gertrude and Wray Shockley, as their adopted daughter. She graduated from Southwest High School, studied piano and voice at the Kansas City Conservatory and majored in fine arts and English at the University of Kansas. At KU she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and remained an active member of the sorority’s alumni organization until late in life.
After college she worked in administrative positions for Hallmark Cards, City Bond & Mortgage Company and the Santa Fe Railroad. When her children were older she worked for several firms as an executive secretary.
In 1945 she married H. Richard Stilwell who passed away in 1992. They made their home in the then new suburban community of Fairway, KS. Mary Jane was an active suburban homemaker, serving as an elementary school room mother, PTA president and Cub Scout den mother for her two sons, Rick and Bob. She was a member of the choir at Southminster Presbyterian Church.
She was a dedicated caregiver for her husband as he battled Parkinson’s disease.
She delighted in her daughter-in-law Connie and her grandson John, and she lived long enough to be an expectant great-grandmother.
Mrs. Stilwell is survived by her son Rick Stilwell and his wife Connie, their son John and his wife Katie and a soon-to-be great grandchild, all of Kansas City; and her son Bob of Columbia, MD.
The family wants to thank the staff of Bickford at Mission Springs Assisted Living and Kendallwood Hospice for their outstanding care and support for Mary Jane. They have been of great service to our family. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18 at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, Ks. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the chapel. Interment will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mary Jane’s memory to Operation Breakthrough and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel (913) 648-6224. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com.
After college she worked in administrative positions for Hallmark Cards, City Bond & Mortgage Company and the Santa Fe Railroad. When her children were older she worked for several firms as an executive secretary.
In 1945 she married H. Richard Stilwell who passed away in 1992. They made their home in the then new suburban community of Fairway, KS. Mary Jane was an active suburban homemaker, serving as an elementary school room mother, PTA president and Cub Scout den mother for her two sons, Rick and Bob. She was a member of the choir at Southminster Presbyterian Church.
She was a dedicated caregiver for her husband as he battled Parkinson’s disease.
She delighted in her daughter-in-law Connie and her grandson John, and she lived long enough to be an expectant great-grandmother.
Mrs. Stilwell is survived by her son Rick Stilwell and his wife Connie, their son John and his wife Katie and a soon-to-be great grandchild, all of Kansas City; and her son Bob of Columbia, MD.
The family wants to thank the staff of Bickford at Mission Springs Assisted Living and Kendallwood Hospice for their outstanding care and support for Mary Jane. They have been of great service to our family. Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 18 at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf, Overland Park, Ks. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the chapel. Interment will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mary Jane’s memory to Operation Breakthrough and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.
Arrangements by: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Overland Park Chapel (913) 648-6224. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com.
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