Obituary of Mary Jane Kidd

Mary Jane Kidd, 90, formerly of 8 Case Ave., Lakewood, died at 9:02 a.m. Thursday (August 25, 2011) at Emeritus of Lakewood, where she had resided since 2001. A lifelong area resident, she was born April 15, 1921 in Jamestown, a daughter of the late Oscar and Lily Beckstrand Sandquist and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1939. For 18 years she worked as a secretary for Jamestown Community College, retiring in 1985 and had formerly been employed by the Ames-Burns Co. for 26 years. Mary Jane was a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church, the American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, Lakewood Memorial Post 1286 American Legion Auxiliary and Lakewood Rod & Gun Club Auxiliary, as well as the national and local AARP, serving as secretary for the local chapter for several years. Mary Jane loved people and enjoyed volunteering, playing cards and reading. She had also been the Senior Olympic Spelling Bee Champion at Loyalton multiple times. She was blessed to have 'a host of friends'. Surviving are a nephew, Fredric (Jana) Bengtson of Liverpool, NY and niece, Ann (Francis) Gengo of Williamsville, NY; four grand nieces and nephews: Megan (Matthew) Key of Denver, CO, Michael (Sherrie) Bengtson of Lancaster, NY, and Michael and Elizabeth Gengo, both of Williamsville; four great-grand nieces and nephews: Judson and Samuel Key of Denver and Reed and Trent Bengtson of Lancaster; a sister-in-law, Joyce Kidd-Johnson of Jamestown and nieces Cynthia Welling of Charlotte Center and Nancy Saulsgiver of Arden, NC; and her dear friend, Gaylene Lindell of Jamestown. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert T. "Pat" Kidd, whom she married September 21, 1946 and who died March 18, 1992, and a sister, Elizabeth Bengtson who died in 2004. The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Violet A. Davidson will officiate. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday and for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Sunday. Memorials may be made to Lakewood United Methodist Church, 164 Shadyside Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750; the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701; or the Jamestown Community College Alumni Assoc., 525 Falconer St., Jamestown, NY 14701.