Mary Jane Shreve

Mary Jane "MJ" (Roller) Shreve, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 3, 2024, with Gary & Kelly holding her hands, playing hymns, while telling her that Jesus and Jack love her. A Celebration of Life event is planned for Saturday, May 11, 2024. 

Mary Jane was born on February 26, 1943, to Doris (Rosencrants) & Ralph Roller. She attended Millington schools and graduated in 1961. She married her lifetime love, Jackson "Jack" Shreve, on July 21, 1962. Together, they celebrated 45 years of marriage before Jack's passing in 2007. Mary Jane was employed by the Frankenmuth Bank & Trust (we would call it "rumor central") for 28 years. After retirement from the bank, she was the Millington Township treasurer for 8 years. She was also a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she was an active volunteer at school, while her children attended, and in the various committees within the church. Mary Jane lived in her childhood home for about 60 of her 80+ years. She and Jack loved hosting parties, car shows, and Summer Festival parades at their home, and you could find her on most nice afternoons enjoying her front porch on Center Street. MJ took great pride in the front porch and loved to host any visitor that may be driving or walking by.

MJ was an avid reader and donated both her books and her time to the Millington-Arbela District Library. MJ also loved to cook! She didn't know how to cook for one or two people, but usually made large portions to feed her hungry boys and their friends! She wrote a cookbook with her and her family's favorite recipes. The running joke with MJ was that each of her recipes always started with a stick of butter and a pinch of sugar. She also loved her chocolate and her Coke. Neither of these items were ever in short supply.

Further, Mary Jane was also a longtime Millington small business owner. She owned the Cardinal Car Wash, which is still family owned today and still the best car wash in Millington. Although, Jack did most of the maintenance, MJ couldn't wait to count the money every week.

Mary Jane along with her husband, Jack, were instrumental in the formation and growth of the Millington Athletic Booster Club in the early 1980s. Our economy was in rough shape back in the '80s and school sports were going to be canceled. Jack & MJ, along with many of their friends and other parents, worked tirelessly to raise money to continue high school sports in Millington. What a great investment of both time and resources!

Many of Mary Jane's fondest memories are of East Tawas. Her parents owned a cottage and Nona and Ollie's family, and MJ's family would plan a yearly vacation together to East Tawas. There are many stories from our family vacations together! She loved this time! 

Mary Jane loved her family and many friends and was very generous with her love, support, time, and money. She is survived by her children, Craig (Sheryl) Shreve, and Gary (Kelly) Shreve; grandchildren: Kayla (Josh) Doller and their son and MJ's first great-grandchild Bastian, Allison (Drew) Shreve, Julia (Michael) Shreve, Jackson Shreve, and Benjamin Shreve. She is also survived by Durene (Roller) Worth, who was like a daughter, and her husband, Bob. Mary Jane is also survived by her good friends, Sharon & Bill Garrett, and Nancy Beagle, and many others. Additional family includes: sister, Lynda (Richard) Leix; brother, Frank (Dorothy) Lee; sister, Patricia (Larry) Cleveland; brother, Terry (Marilyn) Lee; as well nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jackson; mother, Doris Lee; father, Rudolph Roller; stepfather, Rolland Lee; brother, Durwood; sister, Wenona and husband, Ollie Schimpf. There is another family member that needs to be mentioned in this list and that is our family dog, Shaker. This dog brought mostly joy to our lives for many years, but he could be mischievous sometimes too. I hope he's in heaven too!

Mary Jane's family requests to please provide your best, favorite, or most funny (or several) MJ stories with them. The Lord knows there are many MJ stories, she couldn't help telling on herself or providing unintended humor to those around her. Please email these stories to gary.m.shreve@gmail.com or written letters to Gary Shreve 8459 Brookside Court, Millington, MI 48746. Her cookbook is available in a PDF format, just ask for it at the email provided above. We will compile these stories and share these at our Celebration of Life event on May 11, 2024. The Celebration of Life will start at St. Paul Lutheran Church (4941 Center Street, Millington, MI 48746) at 10:30 a.m. A lunch will be served after the service, but details are not yet finalized.

MJ and her family are in the care of Hanlin Funeral Home - Millington. 4823 W. Main St, Millington, MI 48746. Phone (989) 871-4591.

Hanlin Funeral Home - Serving Since 1928

Millington & Vassar