Mary Jane Graves

Mary Jane Graves, 84, of South Sioux City, NE peacefully went to Heaven to join her husband, Gordon on Saturday, June 2. 2018 at her home surrounded by her family.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, June 8, 2018 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City with Father Mike Keating officiating.  Visitation will be Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 5:00-7:00 P.M. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M. at Becker Hunt Funeral Home.  Burial will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in South Sioux City.

Mary Jane was born May 21, 1934 in Sioux City, the daughter of Joseph and Florence (Naughton) McGinty.  She attended Bryant School in Sioux City for Kindergarten.

In 1940 her family moved to a farm in rural South Sioux City. Mary Jane attended school in the North Ward School, Harney School and graduated in May of 1952 from South Sioux City. High School.  Mary Jane would have like to go to Coe College but that year there was a flood and her college plans changed.

One of Mary Jane's favorite stories was how her brother, Jerry and future husband, Gordon would throw corn cobs at her whenever she would threaten to tell on them for taking the chickens they had stolen to town to sell. 

Mary Jane married the love of her life, Gordon Norman Graves on April 27, 1953. They had three daughters, Jane Marie, Terry Jean, and Barbara Joan.

Mary Jane and Gordon were lifelong residents of South Sioux City.

After graduation, Mary Jane worked as a waitress at Sunshine before starting work at IBP.  She worked the A shift processing line. The last position she had at IBP was as a anlyray operator. She worked at IBP for 33 years, retiring in 2003. 

In retirement Mary Jane loved planting flowers, feeding the birds, watching her grandchildren play in her big yard, and caring for her much beloved dogs.  Mary Jane was an avid Nebraska Husker fan. She attended many Husker football games over the years, and she faithfully watched Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune daily.

Mary is survived by her daughters:  Jane (Ron) Cleveland, Terry (Scott) Chase, and Barbara (Patrick) Conlon; four grandchildren:  Travis Cleveland, Chad Cleveland, Scott Chase Jr., and Jess Chase; two step grandchildren:  Cory Conlon and Tammy Bourassa; eight great grandchildren; six step great grandchildren; and her beloved dogs Sugar and Aggie and cat Duder.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, her parents Florence and Joseph McGinty, five brothers:  Joe Jr., Mike, Jerry, Paul and Patrick, her mother in law Ida and father in laws Morris Stansberry and Kenny Hansen.

Pallbearers will be Cory Conlon, Tammy Bourrassa, Travis Cleveland, Chad Cleveland, Emily Cleveland, Brianna Cleveland, Scott Chase and Jess Chase.

Honorary Pallbearers are Mary’s Great Grandchildren.