Mary Jane Dishion

Mary Jane (Owings) Dishion, 70, of West Chester, OH, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 19 after a joy-filled life of service and a fierce battle with cancer. 

She was born in 1954 in Memphis, TN, to James and Mary Sue (Pheny) Owings, and grew up with her younger sister Patricia. She enjoyed spending summers with her cousins in Alabama and loved recounting the times they shared together. She graduated from Overton High School in Memphis, TN in 1972. 

She met her husband, Steve, in the College & Careers class of the church they had both attended since childhood. The two were married in August of 1976 and were able to celebrate 48 years of love and devotion to one another, supporting one another’s interests and encouraging each other’s faith. 

Mary Jane attended Lambuth College and UT Health Sciences Center, earning a BSN and then a Master of Science in nursing, specializing in maternal and child health. She worked as a nurse practitioner for the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, as well as for South Plains College and Hockley County Hospital. Upon the family’s move to Ohio, she opened her own custom sewing business, creating skating dresses, prom gowns, color guard outfits, and many other creative projects, making sure that each garment perfectly fit the person it was created for.

Life took Mary Jane and her family from Memphis, TN to the windswept plains of Levelland, TX, then back to Memphis, and finally to West Chester, OH in 1993, where she told Steve, “This is international headquarters. Surely they can find SOMETHING for you to do HERE. ‘Move’ is a four-letter word!”

She was devoted to her two daughters, spending many hours shuttling them to figure skating, choir, band, and other practices through the years. She was an open, encouraging, dedicated mother. This devotion flowered further with the arrival over the years of four grandchildren. The joy shone in her face whenever she interacted with them, delighting in teaching them about flowers, crafts, sewing, reading, and faith.

Mary Jane was perhaps most known for her faith and her service to the church community. She served as librarian at nearly every church she attended, established Children’s Church at First UMC in Levelland, TX, and led numerous women’s study groups and Bible studies over the years. She was active in several church choirs and handbell groups, and delighted in “making a joyful noise”.

She was the historian for a large extended family. There are dozens of scrapbooks and photo albums that she carefully curated and annotated for most of her life. She has preserved the history of 4 generations with style, grace, humor, and accuracy. 

Mary Jane loved helping others, whether through her career as a nurse, seamstress, church librarian, or devoted Granmommy. When she saw a need that she could meet, she didn’t hesitate to act, whether that action was large or small. Her absence will be notable, but we can honor her by giving and helping as much as she did; write a check, deliver a meal, help a mother or child, put a bug back outside, and always have a kind word as she did. 

Mary Jane’s final days were spent receiving letters, seeing pictures, and hearing stories from loved ones. These memories were read by her or read to her and were greatly appreciated. Please continue to share these memories, either by posting them here or mailing them to the house. Several family friends are taking them down for a scrapbook. 

She is survived by her husband, Steve; daughters, Bethany (Michael) and Kathleen (Jon); Grandchildren, Miriam, James, Ruth, and Caroline; sister Patricia (Eddie); nephew Chad and niece Christy (Mark); stepmother Dorothy (“Mama Dot”) Owings and stepsisters Martha and Marybeth, and numerous beloved cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the children’s ministry of Bethany Church in Liberty Township, or to Hospice of Cincinnati.

Visitation will be Friday, August 23rd from 6-8pm at Hodapp Funeral Home: 6410 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Township, OH 45044. Celebration of Life will be Saturday, August 24th at 10am at Bethany Church 6388 Cincinnati Dayton Rd., Liberty Township, OH 45044 . Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mason, OH.