Mary Jane Hamill, 82, passed early Wednesday morning, Feb 7th, 2018 in Lawrence, KS. She was born July 6th, 1935 in Colby, KS, the daughter of Robert W Fort and Berneice Edna DeSelms, where she graduated High School in 1953.
She attended KU two years in the arts department before her marriage to John Dean Hamill, on June 10, 1955 in Atwood, KS, where they lived for 12 years. Mary first taught in Rawlins County in a one room country school house while at the same time finishing her bachelors in education at Fort Hays State University in 1962. The family then lived in Almena, KS for 6 years before moving to Abilene, KS where she attained a Masters in Special Education at Kansas State University in 1976 while teaching students with learning disabilities in Abilene and surrounding communities.
Mary loved music, art, quilting, painting, sculpture, restoring old houses and collecting antiques. She was a violinist and she directed the children’s choir in Almena and the hand bell choir at the Abilene First United Methodist church for over 20 years. She volunteered as a docent at the Eisenhower Center and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Beta’s, a member of the League of Women Voters and active with Heritage Homes Association of Abilene. Mary sang in her church choir as well as Lawrence Civic Choir and traveled to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic with them.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, (Dec 1989) and her sister Nancy Ann Dahl. She is survived by 4 children; John Mark (Lisa), of Columbus,OH; Bradly Dean (Veda), of Newton, KS; Laurie Janelle Lamothe of Lawrence, KS; and Carrie Marie Blubaugh (Judson) Coester of Prairie Village, KS. She has 8 grandchildren; Benjamin, Katie, Bethany, Joshua, Grant, Caroline, Isiah and Anna.
A Memorial Service will be held 1:00 PM July 7. 2018, at the Abilene First United Methodist Church with Revs. John and Jenny Collins officiating. Inurnment will take place previous to the service.
The family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Abilene First United Methodist Hand Bell Choir.