On Sunday, May 27, 2024, Mary Jean Colkitt, 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Sarasota, Florida after a brief illness. In the two weeks before her death, she was surrounded by loved ones, and she spent Mother’s Day at her son’s home with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Sarasota. She will be greatly missed by each one of them.
Mary Jean Brant was born on June 29, 1929, to Clyde and Grace Brant of Plumville. She was born eighteen months after her only sibling Clyde (“Bucky”). Mary Jean’s father died when she was 5 years old, and that event had a profound effect on her life. Her family was very close-knit as her mother never remarried. She attended Plumville High School where her favorite subjects were math and geography. She also learned to play the piano and saxophone and was a member of the school cheerleading squad. She made friendships there that would last for the rest of her life. She graduated in 1947 and attended two years of college, graduating with an associate’s degree in business from the Indiana Normal School.
In 1951 she married Robert Colkitt of Punxsutawney, and they bought their first house in Plumville. Mary Jean worked as a bookkeeper for Penn Furniture in Indiana, while her husband operated an ice cream stand in Punxsutawney. She also worked as a part-time clerk at the Plumville post office where her mother was Postmaster. Her husband Bob entered the insurance business in 1959 and ran a successful insurance agency until his retirement in 1997. Mary Jean and Bob were blessed with two children, Douglas in 1953 and Marcy in 1963.
She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became Postmaster of the Plumville post office in 1968 and held that position until her retirement in 1988. She enjoyed her job, the people she worked with, and the customers she served every day. Her bookkeeping skills were an asset, and she was proud of the fact that her books always balanced in thirty years of service for the USPS.
Bob and Mary Jean moved from Plumville to Home in 1979, where they moved into a brand-new home that Mary Jean had built for them. Meanwhile, Bob established the “Home” office for his State Farm Insurance agency. In 1995 they moved to Sunset Acres Development in Indiana to be closer to their grandchildren, who frequently spent the night. They even had their own bedrooms.
In 2001 Bob and Mary Jean celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a large party at Chestnut Ridge Resort. Mary Jean and Bob traveled the world throughout their lives and frequently did so with their entire family. They climbed the Great Wall of China, went on safari in Africa, toured India, Russia, Ukraine, and all over Europe, and went on over forty cruises to various destinations. Her most memorable trip was a 65th birthday present from her son in which she and Bob and their friends Larry and Phyllis Rodack of Indiana flew to Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and several other national parks in the western United States on a private jet.
She was a founding member of the Plumville Public Library. For many years she and Bob ran a concession stand at the Ox Hill Fair for many years to raise money for the library. Mary Jean counted the money and Bob would sell the food and solicit donations for the library from the patrons, many of whom were customers from his insurance business.
Mary Jean kept in close touch with her family. She spoke to her daughter Marcy at least once a day wherever she was, even Facetiming Marcy in Australia. She often called her family to catch up on details such as their schoolwork, children, jobs, or other important aspects of their lives. She always attended graduations, weddings, birthday parties, and other important events of their lives no matter where they were held.
Following Bob’s death in 2013 she moved to Sarasota because she was suffering from macular degeneration and could not live on her own without assistance. She lived in a beautiful senior community and was blessed with exceptional caregivers who not only provided great care but became like family over the next 10 years. Mary Jean established many new friendships in Sarasota. Doug and Joanne made sure that her life in Sarasota was vibrant and healthy. She also frequently returned Indiana in the summer to visit friends and family and attend the Plumville Presbyterian Church, where she was a lifelong member.
Mary Jean was preceded in death by her husband and her brother. She is survived by her loving children, Douglas Colkitt, MD (Joanne Russell) of Sarasota and Marcy Colkitt (Paul Castro) of Indiana, PA; Grandmother of Douglas Colkitt (Laura Tesseraio) of Sarasota, Michelle McLeroy (Devin McLeroy) of Sarasota, Kevin Colkitt (Raina) of Gainesville, FL, Grace Castro (Miquel Adillon) Indiana, Paul Castro of Fort Meyers FL, and Michael Castro of Indiana, PA; and Great Grandmother of children who brought her immense joy in her later years: Eva, Eloise, and Douglas Colkitt, Emmerson and Kate McLeroy, and Theodore Adillion, and her nephew Mark Brant of San Diego.
Friends will be received by the family at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home in Indiana on Saturday, June 7, 2024, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am with a funeral service from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm with Pastor Kathy Mihoerck officiating. Burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Mary Jean Colkitt to the Plumville Presbyterian Church of Plumville, Pennsylvania
To send an online condolence to the family, please visit, wwww.bowserminich.com.
