Obituary for Mary Jane Fuller

Mary Jane Fuller, October 10, 1925, to March 8, 2024

After enjoying many years of good health, Mary Jane (Burk) Fuller passed away after a short illness. The oldest of six children, she took care of anyone who needed her—her parents, husband, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, children, and grandchildren. Mary was the wise and compassionate ear on many a long phone call with friends and relatives. Proud of both of her granddaughters' accomplishments, she particularly enjoyed their phone calls and Zoom sessions when they were away at college. She lost her beloved husband Glenn in 1995 and never stopped missing him.

Mary loved to weave, knit, crochet, sew, cross stitch, and solve sudoku and crossword puzzles. She knitted and crocheted dozens of hats, scarves, mittens, dishcloths, and blanket squares to donate to those in need. Some of her handiwork went to her granddaughters’ school clothing drives for children's homes and community shelters. She also shared her skills with others, helping to conduct a craft program for hearing-impaired seniors, and teaching friends, relatives, and acquaintances how to crochet, knit and sew.

Never afraid of hard work, she built a house with her husband in which to nurture her family. As a young woman, she worked in her father’s appliance store and in the offices of the Bureau of Workers Compensation. She helped on her parents’ farms and often spent summers at her maternal grandparents’ Weatherby farm in Howard City, Michigan. She could drive a tractor or a team of horses or mules. Later in life she spent many years as a dedicated employee of BalletMet. The BalletMet Dance Academy named a scholarship in her honor. Mary is survived by her son Paul Fuller and his wife Nell, by her daughter Linda Fuller-Smith, by her two granddaughters Sharra Fullersmith and Shayna Fullersmith, by her sister-in-law Jan Burk, and by many nieces and nephews. Her amazing kindness, generosity, and wonderful sense of humor will be fondly remembered by her family and friends.