Mary Jane Jacobs

Jacobs, Mary Jane “MJ” Shelton, age 92, took God’s hand on October 11, 2011, at HeritageSpring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Chester where she lived the last 5½ years. She is preceded in death by her parents Harry and Evelyn Shelton of Covington; husband and best friend of 66 years, Robert Miles “Bob” Jacobs (2010); daughter Suzanne Evelyn Jacobs (2003) whom she lovingly cared for at home for 48 years; and sisters Helen Shelton and Virginia Hamilton. Survived by son Robert S. Jacobs, West Chester, OH; daughter Lisa Jacobs, Florence, KY; and sister Elizabeth Shelton Jacobs, Taylor Mill, KY. Mary Jane was born August 7, 1919 in Covington, KY. She graduated from Holmes High School and Roanoke Business College, and worked for Crosley Radio Corporation where she met her husband Bob. They married on March 18, 1944. Mary Jane was a tireless advocate and early pioneer for mainstreaming special needs children into the public school system. In the 1950s, her daughter Suzanne was the first mainstreamed student in the Cincinnati area. Mary Jane also regularly campaigned for MRDD tax levies and state and federal legislation. Over the years she was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, involved in the Girl Scouts, PTA Secretary, and member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Reading, OH. Mary Jane was very proud of her home and yard in West Chester where she lived for 34 years. She and her husband were active at Maple Knoll Center for 15 years as members of the billiards team. Mary Jane was known for being an excellent seamstress of beautiful clothes for herself and her daughters. She was dearly loved by her caregivers at HeritageSpring and Cincinnati Hospice, and was uniquely saucy, funny, and caring up to her last day. “MJ” was truly one of the noble, great ones and will be terribly missed until we see her again. At their request, both Mary Jane and Bob Jacobs’ urn interment will be held Saturday, October 15 during graveside service at 10:30 AM, Oak Hill Cemetery, 11200 Princeton Pike, in Glendale for family and friends. See maryjanejacobs2011.jigsy.com for online memorial. Hodapp Funeral Home is serving the family.