Mary Jane Bright “Janey”, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin passed away on March 11, 2019 at the age of 77.
Janey was born on December 16th, 1941 in Cushing, Oklahoma to Pete and Dora Jelsma. She had one sibling, an older brother named Jack. After Janey lost her father at an early age, Dora married Sim Eldridge, who became her second father. She graduated from Cushing High School and attended Draun’s School of Business. On November 21st, 1961, she married Tom Bright in Pampa, Texas. Throughout her life, she lived in many different places, notably Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Janey is preceded in death by her husband Tom L. Bright Sr., brother Jack Jelsma, and grandson Matthew Blake Bright. She is survived by her children, Tom Bright (Cindy) of Aberdeen, South Dakota and Michelle Lyons (Terry) of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Naney”, Lee Lyons, Kristen Bright, Garrett Lyons, Seth Lyons, and Alyssa Lyons.
Services for Janey were held last week in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. A visitation in Sapulpa will be held Friday, March 22nd, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Smith Funeral Home, and services will be held at 10AM on Saturday, March 23rd at Lee and Walnut Church of Christ. The services will be officiated by surviving family members and family friends. Interment will take place in the South Heights Cemetery in Sapulpa, OK.
Lee and Walnut Church of Christ is located at 101 S Walnut St, Sapulpa, OK, 74066.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Online Academy of Biblical Studies (www.oabs.org), 201 NW Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit, MO, 64063, PO Box 262.
Janey lived in such a way that in her passing, she was able to give the gift of life by donating her kidneys and liver to three families in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and her pancreas to diabetes research.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK.