Mary Jane Meismer

Mary Jane (Thomas) Meismer, age 86, died Thursday December 27 after a period of declining health, surrounded by four generations of her adoring family.

Mary Jane was born on March 15, 1938 in Canton, Ohio, to James and Elizabeth (Long) Thomas. She married William A. (Bill) Meismer at 18 years old, and they enjoyed 63 years of a truly loving marriage before his death in 2019.

Mary Jane was brilliant, beautiful and kind, and if you met her, you never forgot her. She had many interests and excelled at all of them. She was a wonderful cook for two people or 50, and her parties were magical. Her gardens were beautiful, and she was a talented painter. She served as a past president of the Massillon Women’s Club, was on the board of Springhill Historic Home, and served in many other volunteer capacities related to her children. But her true gift was her capacity to love: her friends, her neighbors and most of all her family. Her uncanny ability to know what each of us needed, or needed to hear, is what will leave such a huge hole in our lives.

She will be sorely missed by her daughters Rebekah Ann (Rick) Casper, in whose Massillon home she lived for the past several years; Beth Lynne (Pete) Smith of Akron; Amy Jane Catherine (Scott) Williams of Rocky River; and son William Arthur II (Cindy) Meismer of Canal Fulton. Also survived by her grandchildren: Jennifer McCauley; Scott (Megan) Hathaway; Dan Meismer; Jessica Merritt, Caitlin (Don) Kotnik; David (Timeka) Androw; Thomas (Adrienne) Meismer: Andrew Sampsel; Billy (Erin) Meismer; Rob (Robyn) Meismer; Mitchell Williams and Catherine Williams.

She also leaves her great grandchildren: Kayla, Erica, Nick, Elizabeth, Nathan, Colton and Caden McCauley; Melanie, Michael, Mary Jane and Mason Merritt; Ben and Avery Hathaway; Maelee Androw; Zander, Dax, Willow and Myra Mae Meismer; Josephine, Caroline and Anna Kotnik, as well as great great grandchildren Briella, Bryson, Timberly and Messiah.

She is also survived by her sister Edith Miller (Jack Borsseth) of Killbuck, and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Bill Meismer, her brother Jim Thomas, and her great grandson Weston Androw.

Calling hours will be 10 am-noon on Thursday, January 2, with services at noon at the Paquelet Funeral Home, 1100 Wales Road, Massillon, Ohio 44646.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Massillon Women’s Club, Springhill Historic Home, Massillon Museum, or other charity of your choice.

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