Mary Jane Francis "Janie" (Lett) Wasson (81) of Herrick

Mary Jane Francis “Janie” (Lett) Wasson, 81, of Herrick, IL, passed away at 10:40 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2020 in HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, IL.

A private family service will be held on Friday, April 17 in the First Christian Church of Herrick, IL with Rev. Paul Dickerson officiating. Burial will be Oak Grove Cemetery, near Cowden, IL. Memorials may be given to Oak Grove Cemetery. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL.

Mary Jane was born on March 22, 1939 in Decatur, IL, the daughter of James C. and Marie E. (Stamm) Lett. She graduated from Herrick High School in the Class of 1957 and Laura Halford School of Beauty in Decatur, IL. Mary Jane was a member of the Aberdeen, MD Church of Christ and affiliated with Herrick Church of Christ, where she taught children’s and women’s classes. She was a member of the Herrick Unit of the Shelby Co. HCE, serving as treasurer and also as International Chairperson for many years. She also served with the Alaskan Homemakers. Mary Jane was a member of the Herrick American Legion Auxiliary and served as chaplain.

Mary Jane was appointed Town Historian during the Herrick 1983 Centennial, which she filled for many years. Mary Jane also served as Bowling Green Twp. Election Judge and on the Holidays in Herrick committee. Mary Jane was a military wife, farm wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and homemaker.

She married Lewis Ernest “Ernie” Wasson on June 8, 1957. She is the mother of four children, sons, Lewis Wasson Jr. (Alicia) of Herrick, IL and James E. Wasson (Rhonda) of Cowden, IL; and daughters, Maria A. Wasson and Marrainnia J. Wasson, who both preceded her in death.

She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Zackery Wasson, Garrett Wasson (Dawn), Stephanie Nohren (Luke), Savannah Kennett (Justin), Andrew Wasson and Franklin Ray; twelve great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Wayne Wasson (Jannette) of Albuquerque, NM; sisters-in-law, Selma Crowder of Baytown, TX, Doris Wasson of Ramsey, IL, Marjorie Wasson of Cowden, IL and Pat Godfrey (George) of Athens, IL; and former daughter-in-law, Donna Wasson of Cowden, IL.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents, James and Marie Lett; daughters, Maria and Marrainnia Wasson; sisters, Madeline Roberts and Gertrude Dodd; brother, James C. Lett, Jr.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Hazel (Jennings) Wasson; brothers-in-law, Roy, Robert, Darrell, and Nelson Wasson, Ray Black, Ted Patton, Floyd Dodd and Carl Crowder; and sister-in-law, Wanda Patton.

Online condolences may be left by clicking here.