Mary Jayne Travis

Funeral Services for Mary Jayne Travis will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, NE with Pastor Murray Jones and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating. A Private interment will follow at the Riverdale Cemetery at Riverdale, NE.

Mary Jayne Travis, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, NE, formerly of rural Riverdale, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2016 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Mary Jayne was born July 15, 1925, in rural Buffalo County, NE, north of Kearney, the youngest of four children born to Joseph C. and Ada M. (Fester) Stengel.

Mary Jayne grew up on a farm, north of Kearney and attended Hartman Country School north of Kearney. She worked for Sehnert's Bakery in Kearney, where she met a young Navy sailor returning from WWII. He often told the story of how he was walking down the street and saw this beautiful dark-haired lady making donuts in the window and said, "I think I would like to work there." Mary Jayne and Mark D. Travis were married July 22, 1946 in Smith Center, KS. They bought a farm near Riverdale in 1949. They were married for 55 years and were the proud parents of 3 daughters: Kathy Kay, Teresa Renay, and Lola Joanne. Mary Jayne was a farmer's wife who enjoyed her flowers, gardening, and many animals, in particular their Registered Red Angus Cattle.

She enjoyed collecting miniature lamps and making her famous homemade pies. They attended Riverdale Christian Church for many years, where she taught Sunday school and assisted with Pioneer Girls. They later were part of the Kearney Evangelical Free Church for several years. Mary Jayne worked for Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney for 10 years. In September of 2013, Mary Jayne began to make her home at Christian Homes Care Community, where she enjoyed numerous friendships.

Mary Jayne always had a song in her heart and looked on the "SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE!" Some of her favorite songs were "You Are My Sunshine" and "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck." She brightened the world of those around her with her positive and happy spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mark; one sister in infancy, Gladys Josephine and two brothers: Earl Stengel and Jack Stengel.

Survivors include: her daughters, Kathy Rayback and her husband, Terry of Poway, CA, Teresa Buskirk and her husband, Terry of Holdrege, NE, and Lola Coffey and her husband, Cyle of Riverdale, NE; seven grandchildren: Chris Rayback of Normal Heights, CA, Amanda Boruff and her husband, Joe of Poway, CA, Ashley Lopez and her husband, Nick of McKinney, TX, Joelle Buskirk of Lincoln, NE, Jared Buskirk of Lincoln, NE, Larissa Coffey of Riverdale, NE, Cassie Myers and her husband, Marcus of Kearney, NE; three great-grandchildren: Jack Boruff, Emma Boruff and Slayter Myers; along with nieces, nephews and extended family.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Mary Jayne's honor and kindly suggested to the Christian Homes Care Community, with designation for a new hospice room.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.