Mary Jane Ausborn

Mary Jane (Claman) Ausborn, age 74, of Lytton, Iowa, died Monday, July 19, 2004, at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Mary Jane was born August 2, 1929, in Gilmore City, Iowa, the daughter of Ray and Jennie (Wilson) Claman. At the age of two she moved with her family to a farm east of Lytton. She was baptized November 27, 1940 and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Emanuel St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton. She attended Lytton schools, graduating from the Lytton High School in 1947.

On February 13, 1950, Mary Jane was united in marriage to Donald Walter Ausborn at the Lutheran parsonage in Lytton. To this union four children were born: Joleen, Dennis, Cindy, and Gary.

Mary Jane was a homemaker and bookkeeper for Don’s Marina and TV Repair. She also was a bookkeeper for four area fertilizer companies and the town of Lytton. For many years she was a law officer, with her husband, for the town of Lytton and had also been a health aide worker in Calhoun County. In her spare time she hosted toy parade parties.

She enjoyed music and sang in the Lytton Glee Club, was an avid gardener and especially enjoyed her flowers, was an active member of the Lytton Museum and Library, and always enjoyed taking part in Lytton activities.

Survivors include her husband Donald; her four children: Joleen Harmon of Fort Dodge, IA, Dennis Ausborn and wife Janie of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Cindy Patterson and husband Randy of Rockwell City, IA, and Gary Ausborn of Athens, AL; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her brother Donald Claman and wife Marian of Grand Junction, IA; her nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, (Robert) Ray and Jennie Claman.

Funeral services for Mary Jane will be on Friday, July 23rd, 1:30 pm, at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church in Lytton with Pastor Keith Sievers officiating and Lorene Hinrichs, organist. Pallbearers include the following: Robert Taylor, Tony Ausborn, Jon Harmon, Bret Engelkes, Jeff Claman, and Deanne Hall. Burial will be at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Visitation is Thursday, July 22nd, 4:00-8:00 pm, at the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City.