Mary Jane Pickett

Mary Jane Pickett (nee Gasser), age 81, a former resident of Stow, died Friday, June 28, 2013, in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover.

Born March 23, 1932, at Strasburg, she was a daughter of the late Adolph and Jennie (nee Peters) Gasser. Mary Jane was a 1950 graduate of Strasburg-Franklin High School, and went on to attend Kent State University earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1953, followed later by a Master of Science Degree in Education in 1969. She was an educator, having taught in Lakewood Public Schools, Orange Schools at Pepper Pike, Aschaffenburg (Germany) American School, and in the former Sacred Heart School at New Philadelphia.

Mary Jane married Wayne Pickett on August 22, 1987. The couple traveled extensively and were avid bridge players. She was a member of the First Congregational Church at Tallmadge, the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and the Cuyahoga Falls Women's Club.

Mary Jane is survived by her two step-children, Shirley Pickett of Columbus, and John Pickett of Akron; her sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Jim Kuecher of Strasburg; her nephews, nieces and their families, Curt (Marianne) Kuecher of Oregon, OH, Jennifer (Chris) Reynolds of Navarre, John (Wendy) Gasser of Clinton, Laura (Fred) Randolph of Waynesburg, PA, Steve Gasser of New Philadelphia, and Vicky Kuecher of Strasburg.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Wayne, in 2007; her brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Lillian (nee Sikora) Gasser; and her nephew, Mike Kuecher.

A celebration of Mary Jane's life will be Monday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m., in St. John United Church of Christ, Strasburg. Burial will be in Strasburg's Grandview Union Cemetery. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the church's social hall. Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Strasburg, on Sunday, June 30, 2 5 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Mary Jane, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Mary Jane's memory be made to St. John United Church of Christ, 516 N. Wooster Ave., Strasburg, OH 44680, or to Great Lakes Caring Hospice, 1530 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313.