Mary Jayne Stone

July 12, 1936 – February 4, 2024

Mary Jayne was born July 12, 1936, in Los Angeles, California, the third child of four and the only girl. In 1946, her father, the first long haul driver for Lyons Van Lines, was transferred to Portland and a few years later to San Francisco. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1954, married in 1955, and over the next few years had the first four of her five children, all girls.

Mary Jayne began her long career with the Salvation Army in 1968. First, as a part time secretary in Stockton, CA which turned into full time for the next few years and then as an Executive Assistant in Charlotte, NC, where she also added her fifth child and only boy. In 1972, she moved her children back to Portland to be near her brothers and continued her service with the Salvation Army working in the thrift store, Divisional Head Quarters and at the White Shield Home. In 1990, she moved with Charlie, who she met at a Salvation Army camp meeting and married in 1982, to Southern California and went to work at the Territorial Head Quarters. In 1992, she accepted a lay commission as an Envoy and moved to Newport OR to open a Salvation Army Outpost. She later moved back to Sacramento, where she retired from the Salvation Army in 2001. But retirement didn’t last long… a year later she went back to work at the Holladay Park Church of God back in Portland as church secretary for another four years before retiring for good.

Mary Jayne was an accomplished seamstress, frequently dressing her girls in matching dresses, which she said made it easier to keep track them in a crowd.  She was also developed a talent for decorating cakes and was especially known for her wedding cakes.

Mary Jayne was preceded in death by her beloved Charlie, youngest daughter Laurie, grandson Corey, and brothers John, Bob, and Bert. She is survived by daughters Cathy, Bobbi, Sherry, son John, 5 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and a plethora of nieces and nephews.