Mary Jane (Stevenson) Melton, 77, of Lexington, Ohio, embarked on the next phase of her eternal journey on June 18, 2024, following a brief illness. Born on February 5, 1947, in Shawnee Hills, Powell, Ohio, Mary Jane was the second-youngest of eight children born to Donald and Alice Stevenson. She was preceded in death by her parents; cherished grandchild, Jude Melton-Houghton; and siblings Eldon, Barbara, Stephanie Jean, Patricia, and Harold.
Mary Jane is survived by siblings Donald Stevenson (Loretta) of Auburn, Washington; and Eileen Postle (Mike) of Delaware, Ohio; as well as by many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her children, Mary Catherine “Cathy” Melton (Steve Ford) of Canton, Ohio; and Paula Melton (David Houghton) of Brattleboro, Vermont. Also grieving are her beloved grandchildren, Amanda Harris (Everett); Laila Blackwell (Steven Nicolaides); Kaylea Neville (Shane); Buddy Jackson; Cassandra Melton-Houghton (Jasper Guyette); and Ada Melton-Houghton (Jamie Hammarlund). Mary Jane was blessed to share her life with six precious great-grandchildren, who also survive her: Alaina Rice, Everett Harris Jr., Ariana Harris, Annica Harris, Alexa Blackwell, and Caiden Heichel.
Mary Jane was truly one of a kind—an endlessly creative free spirit with an irreverent sense of humor, an immovable moral compass, inveterate generosity, and an enduring devotion to family and friends. Whether she was in her home or in the broader world, Mary Jane’s work ethic was extraordinary. Only her best efforts would do, regardless of the size or nature of the task.
Mary Jane’s primary occupation—the achievement she took the most pride in—was raising her two children to be strong, independent thinkers and providing them with opportunities she herself had never been given. A talented singer, visual artist, photographer, seamstress, and clothing designer, Mary Jane naturally shared her many innate gifts with her daughters. She devoted all her time, energy, and limited financial resources to ensuring that her children could pursue every worthwhile activity they expressed interest in. She encouraged them to be curious and innovative and to thirst for lifelong learning.
Mary Jane put her own aspirations and material comforts second in order to ensure her daughters received the best possible education. She instilled in them a love of books, music, and art, and they in turn have passed these passions to their own children. Her egalitarian sense of morality and justice was ingrained in her daughters from an early age, helping to shape them into people who always strove to do the right thing, no matter the circumstances. Later in her life, this same abundant talent enriched the lives of her many treasured grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Though introverted, Mary Jane truly blossomed in her unlikely second career as a third-shift salesclerk, during which she shared her kindness, work ethic, and effervescent humor with many a weary traveler. Customers would stop in for a drink or snack and find themselves enchanted by a late-night conversation with one of Mary Jane’s many comedic “personalities.” She made true friends of some of these loyal customers, cheering their victories, mourning their losses, and maintaining contact even after her retirement. These relationships were an important part of her life, and Mary Jane felt immense gratitude for the third-shift police officers who would stop in for her coffee, which she famously ensured was fresh and hot all through the night. These particular customers not only kept her company but also kept her safe.
Mary Jane’s love and loyalty, once earned, were unshakable. To be loved by Mary Jane was to be acquainted with the rare and extraordinary beauty of perfectly imperfect humanity. She may have seemed eccentric by conventional standards, but she was always authentically, unapologetically, and wonderfully herself. Her loved ones are truly grateful to have known her and wouldn’t have wanted her any other way. Mary Jane’s name may never appear in history books. But her story, her strength, her sacrifices, her struggles, and even her stubbornness are affectionately and indelibly imprinted on the hearts and minds of all her descendants.
Friends may join Mary Jane’s family for an open-house reception celebrating her life on Sunday, June 30, 2024, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, at Pugh Cabin, Malabar Farm, 4050 Bromfield Rd, Lucas, OH 44843. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Jane’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by accessing the following link:
https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html
Friends and family are invited to share memories and photos of Mary Jane via this publicly accessible document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eOf1Iw9KElsNLJ1AviyGusw_r877UxYP49G1-xz86xI/edit?usp=drive_link
Funeral Home: Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society
Website: www.ohiocremation.org