Mary Blair

Mary Jane Blair, 86, of Jefferson, died April 7 at the Greene County Medical Center. 

Services were held April 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with words of comfort by Pastor Dennis Martens.

Lector was Wendy Pittman, of First Presbyterian Church, Paton. 

Music was “In Christ Alone” and “Softly and Tenderly” with Peg Raney, guitarist, and Mark Erickson, pianist.

Casket bearers were Jay Goughnour, William Hayes V, Jason Walker, Steve Steinfeldt, Jeremiah Goughnour and Grant Walker.

Honorary bearers were Nikki Goughnour, Jill Hayes, Laura Walker, Jennifer Steinfeldt, Cathy Lee Fredrickson, Jessica Goughnour and Audrey Walker.    

Interment was in the Paton Twp. Cemetery.

A luncheon followed at 209 Main, Paton. 

The daughter of Thomas and Dorothy Rundle, Mary Jane was born on Oct. 15, 1932, in Paton, and graduated from Paton Consolidated School in 1950.

On Nov. 26, 1950, she married Lyle L. Blair at the First Presbyterian Church in Paton.  They enjoyed nearly 58 years together. 

After Lyle was discharged from the Marine Corps, they returned to Paton and began farming. Lyle and Mary Jane lived and farmed northeast of Paton from 1957 to 1980, when they moved into the town of Paton. 

Mary Jane loved to be in the kitchen and was known to cook and bake delicious meals that she loved to share with others. She was known for her hospitality. 

In 1972 and 1983, Lyle and Mary Jane opened their homes to foreign exchange students from Brazil. Cristina and Claudia became members of the family and continued to keep in touch until her passing. 

Mary Jane was known as an avid reader, reading most of the books in the Paton Library. If she wasn’t reading, she was sewing or doing embroidery. She enjoyed making quilts for her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   

Mary Jane was also a lifelong member of the Paton Presbyterian Church, and participated in various Bible studies. She cherished the fellowship she had with those groups.

In 2010, Mary Jane moved to Jefferson. There she volunteered to read to school children with her good friend Mary Jane Fields. She enjoyed sharing her love of books and reading, and the children loved having the “Mary Jane Readers” visit them at school.  

Surviving Mary Jane are her daughter, Loretta (Brent) Goughnour, of Jefferson, and children Jay (Nikki) Goughnour, Jill (William V) Hayes, Jennifer (Steve) Steinfeldt and Jeremiah (Jessica) Goughnour; daughter  Lisa (Jack) Fredrickson, of Jefferson, and daughters Laura (Jason) Walker and Cathy Lee Fredrickson; great-grandchildren Taylor, Cole and Megan Goughnour; Will VI, Olivia, Sean and Tobin Hayes; Brooklyn Steinfeldt; Landyn, Lyndsie and Levi Goughnour; Bryce and Blair Walker; brother Dr. James Rundle, of Indianola; sister-in-law Donna Blair, of Jefferson; sister-in-law Anita Rundle, of Americus, Ga.; and many nieces and nephews.

Additional family members that called her Mom and Grandma were George and Laurie Walker, of Paton; Grant (Samantha) Walker and daughter Margo; and Audrey Walker, along with Cristina Amaral and Claudia Querioz, of Brazil. 

Those who preceded her in death were her husband, Lyle; her parents, Thomas and Dorothy Rundle; sister Shirley Currie; and brother Dr. T.J. Rundle.

The family was assisted by the Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home.