Mary Jane Bartels Livers

Mary Jane Livers (77) of Newnan, Georgia passed away peacefully at Brookdale of Newnan with her devoted daughter and son-in-law by her side. She was called by our Heavenly Father the evening of January 23, 2021, after fighting a 10-year battle with Dementia and strokes.  Mary Jane is survived by her daughter, Angela Nugent Rudny, loving son-in-law James Robert Rudny, three adoring grandchildren, Ana Grace, Noah James, and Nora Kathleen, her loving sister-in-law Brenda Bartels, niece Lori Williams Keeney, and nephews, Wes Jr., Wayne and Hance Bartels. Mary is preceded in death by her son, sister, brother, parents, and late husband, Bill Livers.

Mary Jane was born on July 19, 1943, the first of three children to be born to Linus and Inez (Houston) Bartels in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. From a young age, Mary loved everything music:  from singing in the choir to playing the piano and organ to dancing the night away.  Mary Jane graduated Central High School and was a majorette in the band in 1961. Mary Jane and her younger sister, Ruth Ann, took off to the "big city" of St Louis to see the world and work for Transworld Airlines. It was at TWA that Mary Jane met and married Boscobel-Chicago Irish Catholic native, James Edward (Jim) Nugent.  They moved to Los Angeles, California and worked at LAX. They had two children, Ned Robert who was born in 1972 and Angela Joy in 1974. Mary Jane loved California, the warm sunshine, their backyard pool, and entertaining friends and family who visited.  They moved back to the Midwest, to Jackson, Missouri, in 1978 where they later divorced.

With the love of family, Mary Jane and Jim co-parented Ned and Angela. Mary Jane enjoyed traveling, gardening, shopping, and various administrative assistant roles in Jackson.  Losing our precious Ned Robert at age 11 in February 1983 was devastating; a mother's heart never fully heals the loss of a child.

In 1990, Mary Jane fell in love with and married William (Bill) Guy Livers. They lived in St Charles, Missouri, until he passed in 2010. Mary was diagnosed with Dementia in 2011. Angela and Jim moved her to Illinois to be close to their family. Mary grew to love and thrive with her Villa Saint Benedict family and home. As her health declined - and only through the grace of God and in His perfect timing, Angela and Jim were able to move Mary Jane to be by them in Newnan, Georgia in February 2020, just in front of the global pandemic shutdown. It was there they were able to spend much quality time together.

While Dementia stole many years and relationships from Mary Jane, the one thing it never stole was her smile. All her family and caregivers loved Mary Jane's signature smile. She always had a friendly wave, extended her hand to hold, and offered a warm smile.

A private funeral mass was held in Georgia.  Mary Jane is going home and will privately be laid to rest next to her son, sister, brother, and parents at Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Angela, Jim, and their children are most grateful to have had the opportunity to love on her and care for her in her later life. Mary Jane is a beloved daughter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May she rest in peace, greatness, and wholeness for Eternity. God bless you and protect you always, sweet lady.

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