Mary Jane Zellers — UPDATED
Mary Jane (Jeffrey) Zellers died Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at her home. She was 87.
She was born Aug. 25, 1928 to Dr. Newman S. and Mary (Homan) Jeffrey, in Salem.
A graduate of New Albany High School, she earned a teaching degree from DePauw University in 1950, where she received the award for Outstanding Senior Woman in Dramatics. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.
She came to Rochester in 1950 to teach English, speech and speech therapy. She coached plays and the debate team.
On July 22, 1951, She married Fred Zellers. Her father and grandfather performed the ceremony that began their life together. They were blessed with three daughters and four granddaughters.
A busy wife and mother, she used her talents as a public speaker, entertaining audiences throughout the Midwest. She became a speaker for the Indianapolis Convention Bureau. Active in many organizations, she served as president of the local Tri Kappa Chapter and as a parliamentarian at the state level.
With her husband Fred, she helped plan the Prairiewood residential development known locally as Zellers Woods.
An avid genealogist, she traced the Jeffrey and Zellers family lines back many generations. She was a member of Colonial Dames, Society of Hoosier Pioneers, and Fulton County Historical Society. She served as vice-president of the Genealogical Society.
A long-time member of Grace United Methodist Church, she served as President of the Board of Trustees and the United Methodist Women and on various other committees.
She and Fred loved to travel and visited many exotic locations all over the world.
She is survived by three daughters: Julie (Rick) Korte, Indianapolis; Nancy (Ron) Miller, Culver; and Janet (Dan) Cox, Zurich, Switzerland; four granddaughters: Amanda Miller, Bremen; Cindy Miller, Bay Village, Ohio; Taylor Cox, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Alexandra Cox, Zurich, Switzerland; a brother: Joe Jeffrey of Neillsville, Wisc.
Friends may visit with the family from 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 24 at the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester. Funeral service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 201 West 7th St., Rochester at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, with one hour of visitation prior to the service in the church. Burial will follow at Rochester’s IOOF Cemetery.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Camp-We-Can or the Grace United Methodist Church.
Good Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.