Mary Jane Childers Benoit

BENOIT, CHILDERS, REES, TILL, FEELEY

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 8/2/2006 at 21:02:22

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
August 2, 2006

MARY JANE CHILDERS BENOIT, Cody, Wyoming

Mary Jane Childers Benoit, 82, passed away in her home in Cody, Wyo., shortly after 10 a.m., Monday, July 24, 2006. She had been living a full and active life in spite of cancer for the last four years. Mary Jane was born Nov. 7, 1923, in Gilmore City, Iowa, the only child of Edna Irene Rees and Harry Childers. The family soon moved to Winterset, Iowa, where “Chic,” as she was affectionately known to her close friends, graduated from Winterset High School in 1941.

On May 2, 1944, she was married to Robert Gene Benoit. Mary Jane often laughed about her experiences on the troop trains following her husband to military bases during World War II. In 1963, she was divorced with two young children to raise. She took to the task and never weakened. She worked in the law offices of Shirley Webster for several years and then for Neil Kelly at Farmers & Merchants Bank. She retired from Farmers & Merchants Bank as an officer in 1990 with 40 years of tenure.

In Winterset, Mary Jane was a member of the Methodist Church and a very active member of the Women’s Susanna Circle. She served on the Winterset Cemetery Board and was a life member of the Madison County Historical Society, where she was a volunteer. Mary Jane belonged to the Studious Modern Study Club and the Thursday Guild Study Club. She also was active in the Women’s Tuesday Night Bridge Club. Mary Jane loved the activities of the “Golden Girls,” a group formed by her classmates of 1941.

She moved to Cody, Wyo., in 1990 to be closer to her two children. She loved the Rocky Mountains, the wild flowers and wildlife. Mary Jane served as a volunteer at West Park Hospital for many years. She loved her many friends, both in Winterset and Cody.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her son, Spence Benoit (Sheryl Feeley and family) of Cody and Nanette Benoit Till (Robert) of Cody.

A graveside service was held at Riverside Cemetery in Cody, Wyo., at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 28, 2006. Ballard Funeral Services was in charge of arrangements. Donations may be made to Spirit Mountain Hospice, c/o West Park Hospital, 707 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY 82414, in Mary Jane Benoit’s name.