"A kind heart and gentle spirit"

Mary Jane transitioned from this life into the arms of her heavenly Father with her husband by her side at the Church of God Home, Carlisle. She joined her parents, relatives and many friends who have been waiting in heaven for her as she began her heavenly life on Friday, September 2, 2011. She was born January 30, 1925, in Carlisle to Ella (Hyssong) Witmer and Lee F. Witmer.

She was a 1942 graduate of Carlisle High School, was very active in the USO during WWII and was one of the founding members of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority of Carlisle. She received many recognitions of her achievements from the sorority and is a lifelong member of the Perceptor Eta Chapter. Mary Jane had also served as secretary of the Carlisle Civic Club during her membership. She was a lifelong member of the Carlisle YMCA and still swam laps until a few years ago and a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle for most of her life and where she taught Sunday School to "her girls". She had worked for the former Farmers Trust Co., Carlisle for 13 years.

Mary Jane loved her card club, roller skating and swimming at Laurel Lake and Pine Grove with her daughter and friends all through her life. She loved to tell stories about all of the fun times that she had when she would attend Camp Thompson growing up. One of the many things she looked forward to was a bus trip with friends to New Jersey through the Labor day week. Her friends and family were very important to her and she loved them well.

She is survived by her loving husband, William C. Fickel of Carlisle and had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversay in May of this year. She is also survived by her beloved daughter, Laurel Lee Lautsbaugh and her husband, John Bradley Lautsbaugh of Geneva, NY and her beloved cats, Rusty and Peachy.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Chaplain Bradley Moore officiating. Burial will be in Westminster Cemetery, Carlisle. Viewing will be held on Tuesday from 6 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army, 20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle, PA 17013.