Mary Jane Beeghly

BESSEMER, PA. - Mary Jane Beeghly, 75, passed away from cancer on Dec. 15, 2017, while surrounded by her loving family. Mary Jane is now with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Mary Jane was born on Sept. 10, 1942, in Gadsden, Ala., to J. Ross and Jane Philips. The family moved to Poland in 1949.
Mary Jane graduated from Poland Seminary High School in 1960, then graduated from Westminster College in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education.
She taught first grade in the Boardman and Columbus school systems for several years.
Mary Jane met her husband, Joel Beeghly, in high school. They were married for 52 years. She also leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Molly, and son-in-law David Roberts, of Poland; her son, Ted, and daughter-in-law Dawn Beeghly, of Bessemer; and grandchildren Joel David Roberts and Lyla Jane Beeghly. She is also survived by two sisters, Martha Medhurst of Chesapeake, Va., and Barbara Marsh of Pittsburgh; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and a large extended family who loved her dearly.
Mary Jane was passionate about her faith and dedicated to helping others. She served as president of the Poland Union PTA and helped lead the Junior Church program at the Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church and children’s education at the Bethel Friends Church. In later years, she served on the board of the Youngstown Society for the Blind and Disabled and the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center, the last of which she served, as president for six years and led the capital campaign for their new facility in Boardman.
Mary Jane enjoyed gardening (growing her own flowers, fresh vegetables, and herbs), cooking, and entertaining. She was a member of the Poland Garden Club for several years. After moving with her family to Shiloh Farm in Bessemer, she planned and hosted countless weddings, parties, social gatherings, and events at the farm for family and friends for more than 30 years.
A memorial service to celebrate Mary Jane’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Church of the Rock, 7025 Luteran Lane, in Poland, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Visitation will also be held on Tuesday, Dec. 19, between 5 and 7 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, 270 N. Main St. in Poland. Burial will take place after the memorial service at the Poland Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary Jane’s honor may be made to the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Youngstown, OH, 44510 https://www.rescuemissionmv.org.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.