- Date Of Birth: February 25, 1941
- Date Of Death: May 18, 2021
- State: Ohio
SALEM – Mary Jane (Calvin) Kells, 80, slipped peacefully into her savior Jesus Christ’s arms early in the morning of Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at her beloved home with her husband by her side. She was born February 25, 1941 at home in Salem, daughter of the late Warren Woodrow and Violet Marie (Johnson) Calvin.
Mary Jane lived her entire life in Salem. She was a brownie, girl, mariner and camping aid with the Girl Scouts, a member of the junior and senior high school choirs, Y-Teens and a “Hy-Timer”. Mary Jane was an active member of First Friends Church where she sang in the choir and was a leader in the children’s Awana program for more than 30 years.
After graduating Salem High School in 1959, she worked at Church Budget Envelope Company and married Hugh L. Kells Jr. on July 3, 1965. She took time off from the late ‘60s until the late ‘70s to raise her three children. She returned to work finding her true passion, starting at the Salem Golf and Country Club as a hostess, then worked in the kitchen, eventually becoming the Sioux chef. After the golf club, she worked at Salem Hills and then for Victor Calautti’s catering service for over 16 years, retiring in 2014.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Chris Kells of Cornersburg, Greg Kells of Charlestown, SC and Dan (Cristyn) Kells of New York, NY; sister Joyce (Charles) Clegg of Lincoln, VA; brother, Dennis (Cathy) Calvin of Salem and grandson, Bronson Kells.
All who knew her, saw her gentle accepting spirit and loving heart which resulted in her “unofficially” adopting several of our children’s friends. They call her “Mom” to this day and lived them anywhere from several weeks to several years. They include Jackson (Angel) Barcey of Salem, Charles (Amy) Eriksen of Canton and Alex West of Texas, as well as Aaron Daily, who passed away.
Besides her parents, one sister, Carol Davis Ship of Mesa, AZ and her infant daughter, Jennifer also preceded her in death.
