Mary Jane Runyon

Mary Jane Runyon was born Mary Jane Carter on October 15, 1945 in San Francisco, California, the third of four daughters of William and Reba Carter. She married Kenneth “Marsh” Runyon on October 20, 1973. She passed away quietly with her loving sister by her side on October 8, 2025, in Hamilton, Montana.

Mary Jane was dedicated and devoted to her family and was committed to helping her family in any capacity needed. With her parents, she was the liaison between doctors and patient using the medical knowledge and relationships she obtained from many years of working in the medical field, in addition to caring for them in her own home. She supported Marsh in his motorcycle racing, Bonneville speed trials and other hot rod activities, which included nursing him back to health when he crashed and was severely injured. Mary Jane adored her niece Kendall and nephew Will, helped raise them and treated them as her own, as well as her grandson Matthew, supporting their sports and interests, and continued to always be available into adulthood and when they had children of their own. She had an open-door policy in her home, welcoming family and friends and any and all children where they could play and experience her farm animals. She was a loving and loyal friend to many, anticipating how she could help in situations and never hesitating to jump in. She fiercely loved her pets, from dogs and horses, to chickens, goats and donkeys. In her final days, she shed the mortal chains of a broken world to find eternal rest and perfect peace in heaven with her Father (and maybe a few animals, and David Austin roses).

Mary Jane is survived by her husband Kenneth M. Runyon; her sister Susan Hamilton; nephew William Hamilton and nieces Mary Kate Blackwell and Kendall Hamilton; stepchildren Cindy and Tim Higley, Mikki and Larry Castenada, and Trent Runyon; grandchildren Keith and Brandi Higley, Jakob Castenada, Mikayla Tavares and Matthew Runyon; and great grandchildren Payge and Kynedi Higley, and Everly, Aleana, Caroline, Tavion, Emerie and Ares Tavares.

A celebration of life will be scheduled in Fresno in early spring, 2026. In Mary Jane’s memory, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.