Mary Jane Lee Cemer

Mary Jane Lee Cemer

Nov. 19, 1936 - Sept. 2, 2012

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Mary Jane Lee Cemer passed away Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was 75 years old.

Mary Jane was born on Nov. 19, 1936, at rural Palisade, Nebraska, to Sidney Jane and Belle Harriet (Taplin) Coker. She graduated from Palisade High School in 1954.

She was united in marriage to Larry Stone in 1954. She later married William Wayne "Bud" Cemer in 1985. Mary Jane taught school at rural District No. 21, worked at Electric Hose and Rubber and later as a dispatcher for the Hitchcock County Sheriff's office.

Mary Jane was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Culbertson, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was also a Girl and Boy Scout leader when her children were younger.

She owned and operated a ceramic shop where she taught ceramics and created beautiful ceramic and porcelain dolls. She was an expert seamstress often making clothes for the whole family as well as clothes for dolls that she and Bud had repaired. She loved all forms of art including quilting and needle work using bight colors and textures. She loved to bake and was especially known for her beautiful wedding cakes. When Mary Jane had free time you could always find her reading, especially country western, murder mystery and biographies. She was always striving to learn something new about nature and mankind.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Sidney and Belle Coker; her husband, Bud Cemer in 1999; infant daughter, Janie Gaye Stone in 1956 and three stillborn infants; sister, Nannie Belle Coker in 1939; and beloved cat, Essie.

Survivors include her children, Rocky Stone and wife, Carolyn, of McCook, Rebecca and husband, Jesse Dutcher, of McCook and Buck Stone of Trenton; grandchildren, Jeremy (Suzette) Dutcher of Culbertson, Joshua (Julie) Dutcher of Minturn, Colorado, Bethany (Tony) McKillip of McCook, Jason (Connie) Stone of McCook, Kyle Stone (fiancé Laura Colling) of Lincoln; Josey (Sally) Stone of Kansas City, Kansas, Elizabeth Stone of McCook and Seth Stone of Lincoln, step-grandchildren, James and Angie Mitchell of Brighton, Colorado, Mindy and Shaun O'Neil of North Platte; numerous great-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and special friend and neighbor, Dorothy Stevens.

Memorials may be given in her name. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences to the family.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, 10 a.m. at Culbertson Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Lance Clay officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Palisade Cemetery. The family encourages everyone to dress colorfully in her honor.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.