Mary Jane Teague
1926-2016
Mary Jane Morris Teague, who loved family, friends, and her church, and who brought happiness to many, passed away peacefully September 10, 2016 in Birmingham, Ala. at the age of 90.
Mary Jane lived a long and eventful life and impacted many people. She was born in Lawrenceburg, KY, June 26, 1926, to William Chester and Jennie Guthrie Morris. Her father was a civil engineer with the Southern Railway, so they followed his job throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University where she met her husband, Richard W. “Dick” Teague. They married in 1947, lived in Opelika, and had three children, Susan, Barbara, and Richard.
Mary Jane was a homemaker, mother, teacher and Christian, believing that Christ died for her sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised to provide a place in Heaven for her. After Dick’s retirement, she and Dick spent two years near Ebge, Nigeria as missionaries where they came to love their Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ. Her churches, First Presbyterian then later Trinity Presbyterian in Opelika, were extremely important in maturing her in her love for Christ and in shaping her as the person she was, and she loved her Opelika church brothers and sisters just as she did those in Nigeria. She always sensed that the Christian life encompassed all of life and was grateful for the teaching and encouragement she received from her pastors and friends over the years. Her focus was on the future, so she did not dwell on the past and had a spirit of forgiveness and acceptance based on her sure knowledge that everything comes from God and is for her good and His glory.
Music, singing in the Trinity Presbyterian Church choir and the Opelika Civic Chorale, and dancing were always important to her, especially in her later years. She loved the French language and taught it for many years at Lee Academy. In addition to her time spent in Nigeria, she loved using her gift of organization to plan trips all over the United States—she visited all 50 states!—and Europe. She loved cooking and having guests in her home whether it was for a meal or for several days. Her gardens were another joy to her, and she combined her gardening, parenting, and organizational skills to impart a strong work ethic in her children. People brought her the most joy and she had many friends. In her later years she often visited nursing homes, sharing books, music, and laughter. She was an efficient worker, kind, giving, joyful, organized, honest, and sweet lady who will be missed by many.
She is survived by her daughters, Susan Baxley and Barbara Clark and their husbands, John Baxley and Jim Clark; her son, Richard Teague and his wife, Cindy; and her sister, S. Martha Montevallo. Her grandchildren are Douglas Baxley and his wife, Nicki; Christina Brannan and her husband Brad, Daniel Clark and his wife Erin, Alicia Frye and her husband Bobby, Catherine Nobel and her husband Alex, David Teague, Stephanie Teague, and Christianne Teague; and great grandchildren Dillon and Sean Brannon, North and Anders Baxley, Ellie and Ian Clark, and Olivianna Frye as well as many nieces and nephews.
While the family is grieving, it also looks forward with great joy and anticipation to the time that they will all be joined together throughout all eternity.
It is her wish that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the building fund of Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1010 India Road, Opelika, Ala. 36801. Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Garden Hills, which is next to Jeffcoat Funeral Home, 1500 Frederick Road, Opelika, Ala. A memorial celebration was held at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Dr. Chris Duncan officiated.