Mary Jane Matthews left this life to join her soulmate, Matt on August 5, 2026. Mary Jane was born at home in Shackelford County, Texas, on January 15, 1941 to Jim & Sibyl Miller. She grew up and attended schools within an 18 mile radius of Albany, Texas. Her main comment on where she lived was "in the sticks" on an oil lease and spent her 12 years of schooling riding a bus 18 miles to Albany.

After graduation·from Albany High School in 1958 she enrolled and attended Draughon's Business School in Abilene, TX. Abilene was home to Dyess Air Force Base and the last thing her Dad said when he dropped her off at the boarding house where she'd be living was "leave those fly boys alone". She did for the first two months and then went roller skating one night and met her own personal fly boy, Matt. They married 5 months later. And that lasted for 63 years.

She & Matt had 2 children, Donna in 1959 and Steven in 1961. The family moved to Ogden Utah in 1961 where Matt was stationed at Hill Air Force Base. In 1964 they moved to RAF Base Bentwaters/Woodbridge, England for three years. During that time they took a camping trip through France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland and Belgium . This was done in a VW Bug with two children and all the camping gear. Made great memories.

In 1968 they returned to the states to Albuquerque, NM and was there for a year. Matt was discharged from the AF and took a job with LTV Corp. During that time of their lives they moved to Florida, South Carolina, Tucson AZ, San Pedro de Moel, Portugal and Ridgecrest,CA. They came to Ridgecrest like so many others for 6 months in 1973 and except for a few years here and there put down roots.

During her years in Ridgecrest, she worked for the doctors at Drummond Medical Group as an insurance and credentialing specialist.

She & Matt covered all 50 states in their RV after retirement, except for Alaska and Hawaii and for those they chose cruises. They also liked motorcycle riding and rode as long as they could (even getting a trike to extend their time). Matt's failing health put an end to that. She often said, if someone had told me what was waiting for me in life when I was 16, I'd have said they were nuts. I was seeing small town life with some local guy. I would never have expected this, but OH WHAT A RIDE!

Jane was predeceased by her husband Matt (2022), son Steven, 1982, parents in 197 4 & 2015 and sister in 1999. She is survived by her daughter Donna (William Van-l¾o~5-grandchildren-and 15 great grandchildren. Numerous cousins and a great many friends including some of her school classmates.

A visitation will be held in her memory on Saturday August 22, 2026 from 10AM-12PM with a service being held immediately after at 12PM at Holland & Lyons Mortuary. She will be placed to rest with her husband Matt at Bakersfield National Cemetery.