Mary Jane Ivy

Mary Jane Ivy, 94 of Brenham, went to be with the Lord on January 7, 2026.

She was born May 7, 1931 in Concord, Texas to John and Maudie Montgomery Moon. She graduated Concord High School in 1948.

In 1950, she married Jack Allen Downs and together they had two sons, Bill and John. After Jack’s passing, she married Don Ivy in Houston, Texas. They shared almost 40 years of marriage before he died in 2020.

Mary Jane loved entertaining and was the best cook. She could make anything and any vegetables or fruit she had extra of, she canned. She was an excellent quilter, making many quilts for family over the years. She and her husband Don, had many hobbies together, they raised bees for several years, many times taking their hives and kits to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo educating crowds on everything from bee care to harvesting honey. They also spent a lot of time on woodworking projects. In the spare free time she had, she would enjoy a good game of dominoes.

She was employed with Western Auto in Houston as their store manager, working there for 32 years.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law: Bill and Renae Downs, John and Melody Downs; step-daughter: Sherry and Lamar Cooksey; grandchildren: Misty Seeres, Kaylee Downs, Kara Downs, Bud Lewis, Mary Nugent, Mary Pearl Ivy; great-grandchildren: Tyler Lewis, Landon Nugent, Laina Nugent, Alistar Waterman; her niece Vicki Huddleston and numerous other relatives.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Don Ivy, her parents, her former husband John Moon, her sisters, Douglas Jaeger, Helen May, Hazel Tatum and Jo Madden and her brother Martel Moon.

A graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Fellowship Baptist Church, 2000 FM 389 in Brenham.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 West Main St., Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, please visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.