Obituary of Mary Jane Jeffers

Mary Jane Smith Jeffers, 96, died peacefully on December 18, 2014 at her home in Frankfort, KY. She was born on April 27, 1918 to Walter Armour and Mary Etta Cummings Smith in New ALbany, Indiana. Mary Jane is survived by four children: Linda (Terry) taylor of Danville, and Don (Marcie) Jeffers, Jo Ann (Robert) Kinker, and Harold "Jeff" Jeffers, Jr., all of Frankfort. She has six grandchildren: Peter (Glenda) Taylor, Mary Elizabeth Taylor, Melissa Ann Jeffers, Robert J. (Krissy) Kinker, Kevin (Emily) Kinker, and Katherine Marie Kinker; and four great-grandchildren: Ethan and Madeline Taylor and Emma and Caroline Kinker. She was predeceased by her son, Larry S. Jeffers and grandson Scott C. Jeffers. Also surviving are her brothers Walter A. Smith and John T. Smith (Margaret Ann) of Louisville and sister Jo Ann Fleming of Hendersonville, TN. After graduation from the Spencerian Business School in Louisville in 1938, Mary Jane worked for three years with the Kentucky Auditor's Office in Frankfort. In 1941 she married Harold B. Jeffers of Frankfort (divorced 1983), and devoted the next 24 years to motherhood and homemaking. As a volunteer, she was active with Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Garden Club of Frankfort, the Homemakers Club, and First Christian Church. From 1964 to 1976 Mary Jane was administrative secretary of First Christian Church. From 1964 to 1973 she also owned and operated "The Stable", a local Kentucky arts and crafts shop. She worked one year for the Frankfort law office of Stites and Harbison as a legal secretary, then from 1977 to 1980 she was manager of the Frankfort office for Telex-Benz of America, Inc., a European car sales company. In the 1980's, Mary she worked for the Frankfort Electric and Water Plant Board and for the Kentucky Public Service Commission, retiring in 1988. During the 1980's, Mary Jane studied drawing, painting, and weaving at Kentucky State University and was later a juried participant in the Kentucky Crafts Marketing Program. Her woven rugs and mats were exhibited and sold throughout Kentucky and in specialty shops as far away as New York City. Pallbearers will be Peter J. Taylor, Robert J. Kinker, John D. Smith, Charles W. Fleming, Stephen Moore, and Cheyenne Beatty. Honorary bearers will be Kevin Kinker, Robert G. Kinker, M.D., William Fleming, Joseph R. Meyer, and Butch Graves. Visitation will be Monday, December 22 at Rogers Funeral Home from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be Tuesday, December 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, with visitation preceding at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Dr. John Opsata and Rev. Terry Taylor will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the Frankfort Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass - Frankfort Office or the Paul Sawyier Public Library Outreach Program. "As long as I have the love of each of you, I can live my life in the hearts of all of you." - Joey Beighley