Mary Jane McChesney Horner

1931 - 2020

Mary Jane McChesney Horner

Mary Jane M. Horner, 89, of Pittsgrove, passed away unexpectedly on November 12, 2020. She was the devoted wife of Leroy (Red) Horner, Jr. and they shared 65 years of marriage together. Mary Jane was born on October 25, 1931 in Neptune, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Helen (Laug)McChesney and Harrison McChesney. She graduated from Neptune High School in 1949 and worked for the Bell Telephone Co. in Asbury Park as an operator, and later at the New Jersey Natural Gas Co. in Asbury Park as an Executive Secretary where she first met her future husband. Mary Jane and "Red" were married on September 11, 1955 in the First United Methodist Church of Asbury Park. She decided to leave her job after having her first child, and remained a homemaker for the rest of her life.

Mary Jane was an animal lover and wildlife enthusiast. Her "pets' over the years included cats, dogs, ducks and horses, and occasional stray or injured birds and animals. She was an avid bird watcher and had extensive knowledge of birds native to the northeastern United States. One of her great enjoyments in life was watching the birds that visited her backyard feeders, wherever she lived. That love of wildlife led to her involvement with the NJ Wildlife Conservation Corp Bald Eagle Program where she served as a volunteer for over 27 years. Mary Jane and "Red" received the New Jersey Fish, Game and Wildlife Outstanding Service Award in 1999, and the New Jersey Audubon Society Richard Kane Conservation Award in 2007 for their hours of work in monitoring and documenting the Bald Eagle population in Monmouth, Salem and Cumberland Counties. She also served as a member of the Howell Township Farmer's Advisory Committee and as a volunteer at Owl Haven Nature Center in Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Freehold. Always an environmentalist, Mary Jane supported dozens of local, state and national organizations over many years including the National Wildlife Federation, Conserve Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

Mary Jane and Red enjoyed many trips to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland; the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia; and the National Bald Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. They also attended the National Bald Eagle Festival in Haines, Alaska.

Mary Jane was a music lover and enjoyed listening at home and attending plays and concerts. She enjoyed all types of music including classical, gospel, folk, Celtic, popular and rock and roll. She attended her first Bruce Springsteen concert in 2003, and subsequently attended more than ten concerts including the Broadway show in 2018. She received his latest album on her recent birthday, and was looking forward to the next tour. She was also an avid reader, and appreciated all forms of art, and enjoyed going to museums and historical sites. She especially enjoyed visiting Washington, D.C. which she had done throughout her life. In the last few years she spent many hours researching family history on the internet.

Mary Jane will be remembered as a loving wife and mother, for her generosity and her willingness to always put the needs of others first. Though she lived in Salem County for many years to be closer to her daughters, she always considered the Neptune/Asbury Park area as home. She loved staying in Ocean Grove and spending time with her lifelong friends nearby.

Mary Jane is survived by her husband, Leroy; daughters Cheryl Ann Horner Lowe ( John) , Mary Ellen Holton (Earl), grandchildren Christopher Weed, Brenden Holton (Leeanne),Trent Lowe, Clint Lowe ,Zachary Lowe; and two great grandchildren Liam and Luke Holton as well as nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Helen and Harrison McChesney, her brother Harrison McChesney Jr, and her sister Lillian Hurley.

A life celebration will be planned for a future date. Donations in memory of Mary Jane can be sent to: Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, PO Box 420, Mail code 501-03E, Trenton, NJ 08625, or via the website at : conservewildlifenj.org.