Mary Jane Masters, 84, of Las Cruces passed away on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. Mary Jane was born on Oct. 3, 1927 in Grand Rapids, Mich. to Andrew and Gladys Wilson Burgess. Mary Jane was trained as a registered nurse through a government program during World War II and spent her life working in all phases of nursing. She moved to Las Cruces in 1983 to manage a dialysis clinic where she worked for several years and then worked part-time in home health care until the age of 78. She did volunteer work for various charities including Community of Hope, and the Salvation Army where she served as a board member. She also served as president of the Las Cruces Garden Club for two years and as director of District 4 of New Mexico Garden Clubs, Inc. She loved gardening, animals, reading, traveling, children and her family and friends and Las Cruces. She left an example of hard work, determination, courage, compassion and generosity. She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Linda Esche and husband Bill of Manton, Mich., and grandchildren, Betsy Kissman and husband Mike of Henderson, Nev., Rebecca Short and husband John of Alpena, Mich., Lt. Matthew Esche of Anacortes, Wash. and fiancée Summer Hill, and Brian Haas of Florida, also by her brother Bob Burgess and wife Ruth of Munith, Mich. and nieces Lisa Morency and Carmen Burgess and great-grandchildren Jacob and Ryan Kissman, John, Kara and Joshua Short and Harley and Holden Haas. She was preceeded in death by her daughter Barbara Masters Haas in 1988. Mary Jane's family wishes to thank Dr. Zahir and the staff at the Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico for their compassion and the wonderful care she received. They would also like to thank all of her friends who visited her so faithfully during her hospitalization. At Mary Jane's request, cremation will take place in Las Cruces and services will be held in Michigan at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army. Arrangements are with Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88011. To sign the local online guest book go to http://www.getzcares.com/.
Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on September 9, 2012
