Mary Jane Dean 1931-2026

She was born in Greenville, Pa., on Dec. 27, 1931, a daughter of Fred C. and Alice E. Hughes Haws.

Mrs. Dean, a homemaker, graduated from Penn High School in 1949. She married the love of her life, Robert Dean, on Jan. 14, 1950. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hubbard, where she sang with the church choir and attended several Bible study groups. Two additional passions fueled Mary Jane — her support of the missions programs at the First Baptist and Nazarene Churches of Hubbard and her love of music. She spent decades as a member of the Lyric Club, providing programs to residents of assisted living homes in the area. She enjoyed baking and she loved being with her family above all.

Mary Jane was “old school.” She believed that communication was key in building and maintaining relationships. To this end, she used her phone and the U.S. Postal Service tirelessly to bring joy to her wide list of contacts. Grandkids could always look forward to her acknowledgement of their birthdays. Mary Jane took great satisfaction in matching cards to the individual while including a personal and thoughtful greeting.

She could not abide a tattered U.S. flag and took it upon herself to supply the First Baptist Church, Nazarene Church and the War Memorial with replacement flags obtained through the serving Ohio senator.

A lifelong reader of The Vindicator, she tracked her cohorts through, yes, the obituaries, just in case one slipped through the net. Mary Jane challenged herself to complete the Vindicator crossword every day with exceptional results despite the many new words that have penetrated our language. While she struggled with numbers in her later years, language was never a problem.

Mary Jane leaves her sons, Robert B. (Kathleen S.) Dean of Hubbard and Richard W. (Donna J.) Dean of Hubbard; a daughter, Alice L. (Edward W.J.) Jenkins of Hubbard; seven grandchildren, Jason (Coleen) Dean, David Dean, Autumn Dean, Melissa (Steve) Mayer, Andrew (Alexandria) Dean, Jonathan (Kristin) Jenkins and Jennifer Jenkins; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Mary Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Robert H. Dean, who passed away on Dec. 24, 1991; her great-grandson, Nathanial Mayer; her brother, Dale Haws; and her sister, Shirley Beil.

Family and friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Hubbard, 59 Orchard Ave. SE, Hubbard, OH 44425, where a memorial service will begin at 3 p.m., at the church, with Pastor Luke Oskin officiating.

Donations may be made to the Hubbard Church of the Nazarene, 1815 Cherry Lane Drive SE, Hubbard, OH 44425, to help support their missions program.

Arrangements have been handled by the Kelley-Cummins Funeral Home.

Please visit www.kcummins.com to view this obituary and leave condolences for the family.

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