Mary Jane Vanderstraaten

Born November 1 1932, Jane went to be with her Savior after a brief battle with cancer surrounded by the love of family, on Monday, August 28,2017. Jane was the eldest of three daughters born to Marie and Hoyt McElhaney. She grew up in Muskogee and then attended Oklahoma State University before moving to Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles she met the love of her life, Willem (Bill) Jurrie Vanderstraaten, and they married on December 28th, 1957. Jane and Bill moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, and then to Richardson Texas where Bill started his career at Texas Instruments. Jane worked as Assistant to the Dean of the SMU School of Engineering for over 15 years. She was a member of The First United Methodist Church of Richardson, where she participated in Bible studies and the Apostle’s Class. Jane was active in BSF, The Garden Club of Flower Lovers, and with Bill the Holland-America Club. Adventures they shared as a couple included numerous cross-country road trips with Jane’s sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Joe Henderson. The entertaining stories of their travel experiences will live on for years. Jane was a constant presence in the lives of her grandchildren and was always the lead cheerleader at their various activities. We will miss Jane’s easy laugh, her loving nature, her encouraging words and her natural grace. Jane loved being a wife to Bill for 52 years, who preceded her in death on August 1, 2010. She is survived by daughter Karen Horton, and grandchildren Drew, Amy and Caroline, as well as her son Bill Vanderstraaten, his wife Mimi, grandchildren Emily and Will, and sister, Pat Henderson of Tulsa. The family would like to especially thank the caregivers at Appletree Assisted Living, and are grateful for the care she received from THPC hospice.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 30, 2017 from 6-8pm in Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, Dallas. A family graveside service will be held at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, followed by a memorial service for Jane at First United Methodist Church of Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080, on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 4:00pm. Donations may be made to First United Methodist Church - www.fumcr.com/giving.