MARY JANE BAKER
Mary Jane Baker, my wife, PASSED peacefully of natural causes, early the morning of January 8, 2021 in the Pines nursing home, Easton, Maryland, while under COVID lockdown.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Rachel Jane Barkey, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, and by her brother John, of Belmont County, Ohio.
Mary leaves behind her loving husband, Ray, three adult children, Melodie Beth, Benjamin Ray, and Amy Louise, an unofficial foster daughter, Heather Sutherland, two granddaughters, and three grandsons.
Mary Jane graduated Martins Ferry High School in Ohio. She received a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from Muskingum University, Ohio. She studied and applied the MusicGarten music program for children.
She taught music in several schools in Ohio, and for over ten years in Christian Center School, Alexandria, Virginia. She frequently received standing ovations for programs performed by the students of that school, and directed a hand bell choir performance by the graduating eighth-graders.
Mary Jane worked in several different day care centers, marketed books for Destiny Image publishing company, home schooled her children while that practice was not common, and renewed her credentials periodically by taking music courses at Duquesne University. She arranged music for a Christian, community cable production called Land of Laud
Mary Jane loved her family, music, reading, playing the piano, and singing. She was a spirit-filled Christian evangelist, and a member of the Easton Church of God.
She was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, on October 10, 1947, and married January 30, 1971.
Places in which Mary Jane resided include Martins Ferry, Carrollton, Ohio, Cadiz, Ohio, Chambersburg, PA, Shippensburg, PA, and Plum Boro and Castle Shannon (suburbs of Pittsburgh PA), Annandale, VA, Alexandria, VA, and finally, Easton, MD.
Mary Janes ashes will be buried in her parents plot in Martins Ferry per arrangements previously made with Fellows, Helfenbein, & Newnam and Wilson-Heslop Funeral Homes.
No funeral, viewings, or Memorial Services were ever planned. Flowers will not be needed.
I paid $5 for my Mary Jane marriage license and certainly got my moneys worth!
The music teacher PASSED, but I give her a grade of A PLUS.