Mary Jane Williams Christian, 97, passed away peacefully at Sunrise of Raleigh Assisted Living on Sunday, October 23, 2016 after a period of declining health. She was born in Tyrone, Pa. on June 30, 1919 to the late Arthur Scott Williams and the late Bess Marguerite Calderwood Williams.

She graduated from Tyrone High School and Ann Arbor University where she studied bookkeeping. Mary met her future husband, John Allen Christian while he attended Penn State University. She married him on August 9, 1943 in Alexandria, La. while John was in training in the Army Air Corps.

They moved to Raleigh in 1955 where John was a professor at NC State University.

Mary was a loving mother to five children and was a stay-at-home mom until all of her children were in school. She then began to work as a bookkeeper for Dunn's Clothing Store in Cameron Village and then Johnson's Jewelers on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.
After retirement John and Mary spent many years traveling around the the United States and the world, including many cruises and visiting every state in the US. They enjoyed several cross country road trips and several winter seasons in Florida in their fifth wheel recreational vehicle (RV).

Mary loved to play couples bridge, watch professional baseball, and was active in the NC State College Faculty Club, being president of the Women's Club for a year. She also enjoyed shopping, knitting, her cats and most of all being with her family. There was always a big dinner on Sunday when Mary would make one of her famous dishes: scalloped potatoes, macaroni salad, pumpkin pie or peanut butter fudge. Nana's famous pumpkin pie is made by most family members on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Mary is predeceased by her husband, John, her daughter, Mary Ann Christian Sedberry, her sister, Louise Green and brother Arthur Scott Williams.

Mary is survived by her children, Nancy Jane Christian Walters, Linda Lee Christian Thurber(David), Marjorie Jean Christian Liggins and John Allen Christian, Jr.(Mary Beth Fleming); son-in-law, Frank Sedberry; 10 grandchildren, Robin Nichols, Robert Nichols, Stephanie Carrino, Janice Sherrell, Susan Roche, Amy Weaver, John Allen Christian, III, Bryan Christian, Mark Christian and Daniel Christian, 13 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great- grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many special friends.

A service of celebration will be held at Montlawn Funeral Home on Saturday, October 29, 2016 beginning with a visitation at 11:00 am and followed by a service of remembrance at 12 noon.

Memorial contributions can be made to Westover United Methodist Church, 300 Powell Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 or the SPCA of Wake County, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603.

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