Mary Jane (Montford) Hartsell

Mary Jane Montford Hartsell, 99, passed away Thursday, August 3, 2017.

Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Newby Street, Bridgeport Texas.

Visitation: 2:00-4:00 Sunday at Hawkins Funeral Home, 1909 9th Street, Bridgeport, Texas.

Memorials: First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Newby Street, Bridgeport.

Mary Jane Montford was born November 13, 1917, to John and Emma Jeter Montford in Wise County, Texas. Mary Jane and her four brothers and three sisters grew up on their farm in the Pleasant Valley Community on the outskirts of Bridgeport, Texas. On November 16, 1935, just two days after her eighteenth birthday, she married her first and only love, Roy Hartsell. Mary Jane and Roy lived in Bridgeport until their daughter graduated from college. They moved to Fort Worth then returned home to Bridgeport after Roy retired.

Mary Jane was a talented seamstress and loved to make clothes. She made clothes for her whole family and would often go to the store and draw a picture of a dress then return home and make one that would be beautiful and fit perfectly. She especially loved to quilt. She loved being part of a quilting group called KrazZ Quilters and was the friend to turn to when anyone was learning a new sewing skill.
Mary Jane was very talented but the two most vital parts of her life were her church and her family. As a third generation Presbyterian, she was very active in her church and especially loved singing in the choir and the Women of the Church. She was so proud when she could attend the ordination of her grandson as an Elder in the church telling everyone he was a fifth generation Elder in the Presbyterian Church from the Montford family in America. She loved her nieces and nephews and was always thrilled when forty or sixty people would come to her house for Thanksgiving.

Mary Jane was very active and always had a project. She loved being involved and tried everything from the "Horne Demonstration Clubs" of the 1940's to playing in a Ukulele Band. She was active in Eastern Star and served on several Boards for Wise County and her church. Mary Jane proudly served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church. She was a fifty year member of the Eastern Star and was a Past
Matron of the Decatur Eastern Star.

She was preceeded in death by her husband Roy Hartsell; her parents, John and Emma Montford; her four brothers, Charlie Montford, Dink Montford, Ross Montford, Jimmy Montford; and three sisters, Lalla Crawford, Marg Giles, and Lucile Thomas.

Survivors: Daughter, Claudia Roberts and husband, Tommy Roberts, of Fort Worth; her grandchildren, Matt Roberts and wife, Tarni, of Dallas; Leah Roberts and Nick Robertson, of Fort Worth; her great grandchildren, Kirston Potts, of Fort Worth, Anna Roberts and Abby Roberts, of Dallas; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

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