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WOODRUFF -- Mary Jane Willson Woodruff, 88, of Albuquerque, passed away at her home on Friday, April 9, 2010. She was born January 7, 1922 in Whitman County, WA. She married Jack Woodruff August 8, 1942 in Tucson, AZ. Mary Jane was the oldest of eight children born to Mary Kate and William S. Willson. She grew up on a farm in Whitman County, WA helping to care for her many siblings. She completed grade school (grades 1 through 8) early and so was able to stay home and help her mother with the house and the new baby, Lavonne, for some months. She went to High School in Steptoe while staying with relatives and going home to the farm on weekends. After graduating as Salutatorian, she attended Northwestern Business School in Spokane with her BFF Agnes Beiyer Suess. She then moved to Tucson to work and met and married her eternal companion, Jack. They shared nearly 67 years together. Mary Jane moved back to Washington after Jack was shipped over seas. She worked in Spokane and gave birth to Roger before Jack came home from the war. They had two more children in Washington, Warren and Nancy. Mary Jane followed Jack on his adventures to Utah, Oklahoma, Florida and Socorro, New Mexico, where their youngest child, Nita was born. Jack and Mary Jane moved back to Socorro in 1961 from Pompano Beach, Florida. They leased a gas station at the corner of Fisher Avenue and Park Avenue from 1961 to 1965. They purchased and ran the parts store/auto shop, Woodruff and Sons, at California and Manzanares until 1970. Mary Jane ran the parts counter and was the bookkeeper. They moved their home and business to Fairgrounds Road in 1977. Besides running the business and filling in as an extra on the wrecker, Mary Jane was busy with Pythian Sisters and community service. She ascended to the rank of Grand Chief and served several times as Secretary and Treasure in Pythian Sisters. She was a member and officer of the Socorro Garden Club and worked with Eiko Parson in The Animal Humane Society. She and Jack were volunteers in the landscaping project of Socorro Cemetery. She set a great example for her children and grandchildren of selfless service to others. Mary Jane had a hunger for knowledge and education. She inspired her grandchildren toward the same and made college funding available to them all. Mary Jane is survived by two sons, Roger and his wife Jo, Jarales, NM; Warren and his wife Rachel of Christiansted, St. Croix; daughters Nancy Burris and Nita Cooley of Albuquerque. Surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren are: Adam Woodruff, MS, LMFT and his wife Evelyn and children Jack and Maya, Longmont, Colorado; Dr. Evelyn Blalock, PhD. and daughter Ella Grace, Columbus, Georgia; James W. Burris and Jessica Vodenichar and son, Wyatt, Kenai, Alaska; Jason Woodruff and daughter Megan, Rio Rancho, NM; Jay Burris, San Diego, CA; Scott Woodruff and Jennifer Woodruff of Albuquerque; Heather and her husband Capt. Sean Palmer and their daughters Kennedy and Brynn, Abingdon, Maryland; D. David Timberman II and his wife Amanda and their daughters Brooklynn and Adrianna, Port Charlotte, Florida; Amanda Burris, Albuquerque and Allen Cooley of Phoenix, Arizona. Also surviving are siblings Nan Harwod, Beverly Hale, Norman Willson, Lavonne Mader and Richard Willson. Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Jack, sister, Barbara Weaver and brother Bill Willson. Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 2:00 pm. It will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kachina Chapel located at 6009 Kachina NW in Taylor Ranch, Albuquerque, NM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Heartland Hospice Care, 4001 Indian School Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, or call 323-1464.
        Published on: Fri April 16, 2010