Mary Jane Roper, 88, was born in Hays, Kansas on August 4th, 1927 to Barbara and George Kitchen and peacefully passed away on February 18, 2016.
She graduated from Girl's Catholic High School in Hays and attended Fort Hays State College where she met and married her husband David Paul Roper. Mary Jane and David ultimately moved to Wichita where they worked and raised their family.
She continued her education at Wichita State University and earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art Education. Mary Jane was a lifelong believer in the power of education and a dedicated and beloved teacher, who always supported and encouraged her students through new learning opportunities and self-expression. Mary Jane taught at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Christ the King Catholic School and Pleasant Valley Junior High School, all in Wichita. She was subsequently promoted to Art Education Administrator for the Wichita Public School System.
In 1989, Mary Jane was chosen "Outstanding Kansas Art Educator of the Year" by the Kansas Art Education Association and "Art Educator of the Year" by the National Art Education Association. Upon her retirement, she and David developed Pine Valley Farm just outside Wichita in Valley Center where they grew 5 varieties of Christmas trees on 18 acres and operated a wonderful Christmas Gift Shop.
Mary Jane also pursued her love of gardening by becoming a Master Gardener and working with the Sedgwick County Master Gardeners Association. In 2007 they presented her with the "Golden Trowel Award" for her work with their shrub rose project and in 2009 she was presented with their "Emeritus Award" for her dedicated service from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Mary Jane continued her love of the arts through her many years of service as a docent with the Wichita Art Museum. She enjoyed Music Theater, the Wichita Symphony and visiting gardens and art museums everywhere.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, David Paul Roper, her brothers William and Robert Kitchen and her sister Patricia Kitchen.
She is survived by her younger brother Donald Kitchen of Hays, Kansas, and her 4 daughters; Robin Zavitkovsky and her husband Karl of Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Fishback and her husband Tom of Fairfield Iowa, Deanna Liebl and her husband Bob of Wichita, Kansas and Vanessa Viviano of Mableton, Georgia.
Other survivors include her grandchildren; Michelle Gummer and her husband Ryan of Dallas, Texas, Jason Woods of Dallas, Texas, Jeff Zavitkovsky and his wife Shannon of Tega Cay, South Carolina, Frank Zavitkovsky and his wife Melanie of Carrolton, Texas, Cole Fishback and his wife Anni of Fairfield, Iowa, Mogen Keene and her husband Michael of Fairfield, Iowa and Alessandra Viviano of Mableton, Georgia, and her great-grandchildren; Marcus and Sophia Gummer, Liatres and Aravelle Keene, and Grant, Ryan and Jack Zavitkovsky.
Mary Jane was loved and respected by her family and her many longtime friends. She loved life and her optimism and infectious laughter will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary Jane's name to the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd. Wichita, Kansas 67203.
Hays Daily News, 2/20/2016
She graduated from Girl's Catholic High School in Hays and attended Fort Hays State College where she met and married her husband David Paul Roper. Mary Jane and David ultimately moved to Wichita where they worked and raised their family.
She continued her education at Wichita State University and earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art Education. Mary Jane was a lifelong believer in the power of education and a dedicated and beloved teacher, who always supported and encouraged her students through new learning opportunities and self-expression. Mary Jane taught at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Christ the King Catholic School and Pleasant Valley Junior High School, all in Wichita. She was subsequently promoted to Art Education Administrator for the Wichita Public School System.
In 1989, Mary Jane was chosen "Outstanding Kansas Art Educator of the Year" by the Kansas Art Education Association and "Art Educator of the Year" by the National Art Education Association. Upon her retirement, she and David developed Pine Valley Farm just outside Wichita in Valley Center where they grew 5 varieties of Christmas trees on 18 acres and operated a wonderful Christmas Gift Shop.
Mary Jane also pursued her love of gardening by becoming a Master Gardener and working with the Sedgwick County Master Gardeners Association. In 2007 they presented her with the "Golden Trowel Award" for her work with their shrub rose project and in 2009 she was presented with their "Emeritus Award" for her dedicated service from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Mary Jane continued her love of the arts through her many years of service as a docent with the Wichita Art Museum. She enjoyed Music Theater, the Wichita Symphony and visiting gardens and art museums everywhere.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, David Paul Roper, her brothers William and Robert Kitchen and her sister Patricia Kitchen.
She is survived by her younger brother Donald Kitchen of Hays, Kansas, and her 4 daughters; Robin Zavitkovsky and her husband Karl of Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Fishback and her husband Tom of Fairfield Iowa, Deanna Liebl and her husband Bob of Wichita, Kansas and Vanessa Viviano of Mableton, Georgia.
Other survivors include her grandchildren; Michelle Gummer and her husband Ryan of Dallas, Texas, Jason Woods of Dallas, Texas, Jeff Zavitkovsky and his wife Shannon of Tega Cay, South Carolina, Frank Zavitkovsky and his wife Melanie of Carrolton, Texas, Cole Fishback and his wife Anni of Fairfield, Iowa, Mogen Keene and her husband Michael of Fairfield, Iowa and Alessandra Viviano of Mableton, Georgia, and her great-grandchildren; Marcus and Sophia Gummer, Liatres and Aravelle Keene, and Grant, Ryan and Jack Zavitkovsky.
Mary Jane was loved and respected by her family and her many longtime friends. She loved life and her optimism and infectious laughter will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary Jane's name to the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd. Wichita, Kansas 67203.
Hays Daily News, 2/20/2016
Mary Jane Roper, 88, was born in Hays, Kansas on August 4th, 1927 to Barbara and George Kitchen and peacefully passed away on February 18, 2016.
She graduated from Girl's Catholic High School in Hays and attended Fort Hays State College where she met and married her husband David Paul Roper. Mary Jane and David ultimately moved to Wichita where they worked and raised their family.
She continued her education at Wichita State University and earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art Education. Mary Jane was a lifelong believer in the power of education and a dedicated and beloved teacher, who always supported and encouraged her students through new learning opportunities and self-expression. Mary Jane taught at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Christ the King Catholic School and Pleasant Valley Junior High School, all in Wichita. She was subsequently promoted to Art Education Administrator for the Wichita Public School System.
In 1989, Mary Jane was chosen "Outstanding Kansas Art Educator of the Year" by the Kansas Art Education Association and "Art Educator of the Year" by the National Art Education Association. Upon her retirement, she and David developed Pine Valley Farm just outside Wichita in Valley Center where they grew 5 varieties of Christmas trees on 18 acres and operated a wonderful Christmas Gift Shop.
Mary Jane also pursued her love of gardening by becoming a Master Gardener and working with the Sedgwick County Master Gardeners Association. In 2007 they presented her with the "Golden Trowel Award" for her work with their shrub rose project and in 2009 she was presented with their "Emeritus Award" for her dedicated service from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Mary Jane continued her love of the arts through her many years of service as a docent with the Wichita Art Museum. She enjoyed Music Theater, the Wichita Symphony and visiting gardens and art museums everywhere.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, David Paul Roper, her brothers William and Robert Kitchen and her sister Patricia Kitchen.
She is survived by her younger brother Donald Kitchen of Hays, Kansas, and her 4 daughters; Robin Zavitkovsky and her husband Karl of Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Fishback and her husband Tom of Fairfield Iowa, Deanna Liebl and her husband Bob of Wichita, Kansas and Vanessa Viviano of Mableton, Georgia.
Other survivors include her grandchildren; Michelle Gummer and her husband Ryan of Dallas, Texas, Jason Woods of Dallas, Texas, Jeff Zavitkovsky and his wife Shannon of Tega Cay, South Carolina, Frank Zavitkovsky and his wife Melanie of Carrolton, Texas, Cole Fishback and his wife Anni of Fairfield, Iowa, Mogen Keene and her husband Michael of Fairfield, Iowa and Alessandra Viviano of Mableton, Georgia, and her great-grandchildren; Marcus and Sophia Gummer, Liatres and Aravelle Keene, and Grant, Ryan and Jack Zavitkovsky.
Mary Jane was loved and respected by her family and her many longtime friends. She loved life and her optimism and infectious laughter will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary Jane's name to the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd. Wichita, Kansas 67203.
Hays Daily News, 2/20/2016
She graduated from Girl's Catholic High School in Hays and attended Fort Hays State College where she met and married her husband David Paul Roper. Mary Jane and David ultimately moved to Wichita where they worked and raised their family.
She continued her education at Wichita State University and earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Art Education. Mary Jane was a lifelong believer in the power of education and a dedicated and beloved teacher, who always supported and encouraged her students through new learning opportunities and self-expression. Mary Jane taught at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, Christ the King Catholic School and Pleasant Valley Junior High School, all in Wichita. She was subsequently promoted to Art Education Administrator for the Wichita Public School System.
In 1989, Mary Jane was chosen "Outstanding Kansas Art Educator of the Year" by the Kansas Art Education Association and "Art Educator of the Year" by the National Art Education Association. Upon her retirement, she and David developed Pine Valley Farm just outside Wichita in Valley Center where they grew 5 varieties of Christmas trees on 18 acres and operated a wonderful Christmas Gift Shop.
Mary Jane also pursued her love of gardening by becoming a Master Gardener and working with the Sedgwick County Master Gardeners Association. In 2007 they presented her with the "Golden Trowel Award" for her work with their shrub rose project and in 2009 she was presented with their "Emeritus Award" for her dedicated service from 1997 to 2009. In addition, Mary Jane continued her love of the arts through her many years of service as a docent with the Wichita Art Museum. She enjoyed Music Theater, the Wichita Symphony and visiting gardens and art museums everywhere.
Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, David Paul Roper, her brothers William and Robert Kitchen and her sister Patricia Kitchen.
She is survived by her younger brother Donald Kitchen of Hays, Kansas, and her 4 daughters; Robin Zavitkovsky and her husband Karl of Dallas, Texas, Jennifer Fishback and her husband Tom of Fairfield Iowa, Deanna Liebl and her husband Bob of Wichita, Kansas and Vanessa Viviano of Mableton, Georgia.
Other survivors include her grandchildren; Michelle Gummer and her husband Ryan of Dallas, Texas, Jason Woods of Dallas, Texas, Jeff Zavitkovsky and his wife Shannon of Tega Cay, South Carolina, Frank Zavitkovsky and his wife Melanie of Carrolton, Texas, Cole Fishback and his wife Anni of Fairfield, Iowa, Mogen Keene and her husband Michael of Fairfield, Iowa and Alessandra Viviano of Mableton, Georgia, and her great-grandchildren; Marcus and Sophia Gummer, Liatres and Aravelle Keene, and Grant, Ryan and Jack Zavitkovsky.
Mary Jane was loved and respected by her family and her many longtime friends. She loved life and her optimism and infectious laughter will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary Jane's name to the Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd. Wichita, Kansas 67203.
Hays Daily News, 2/20/2016
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