Obituary of Mary Jane Speer

SPEER, Mary Jane 97, of Tucson, AZ, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Gallagher, passed away on March 15, 2016. Mary Jane was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 13, 1918. She was preceded in death by her late husband of 56 years, Ret Lt. Col. Maurice Edmond Speer. She was also preceded in death by her children, John F. Speer and Kathryn A. Speer. She is survived by her children, James E. Speer and Mary P. Speer. She is survived by grandchildren, James E. Speer II, Jon Christopher Speer and his wife, Shannon Speer, Nicolas E. Bovine, Kathryn Kinton and her husband, Maj. John Kinton, Frieda Toroman and her husband, Nanad Toroman, Patrick Lee Bovine and his wife, Whitney Bovine. She is survived by great-grandchildren, Ashley Gaines, James E. Speer III, Kelsea Speer, Ziggi Kinton, Megan Bolerjack, John Patrick Kinton, Mary Jane Kinton, Liam Toroman, Ever Clementine Toroman, Kathryn Bovine, Bella Speer and Macey Speer. Mary was preceded in death by her siblings, Rev. Francis J. Gallagher S.J., Dr. Neil I. Gallagher and Mrs. Jeannie Smelker. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Jacqueline Bell and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Patricia A. Gallagher. Mary Jane attended St. Joseph's Academy and graduated from Tucson high in 1936. She entered the University of Arizona where she met and married Maurice E. Speer. Maurice and Mary Jane were a United States Air Force family for over 30 years and were stationed in multiple bases throughout the United States. Mary Jane was a homemaker. She managed the Elcon bookstore for 11 years before retiring and using her free time to volunteer within the community with organizations such as The Assistance League of Tucson and Beacon Foundation of Tucson. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2016 at the Adair Dodge Chapel. A Rosary will be conducted at Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Tucson, Arizona, Monday, March 21, 2016, 12:00 noon, with a Funeral Mass to follow starting at 12:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to University of Arizona Cancer Center. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.