Mary Jane Gill

Mary Jane Gill passed away Sunday, February 15, 2015 at Good Samaritan Society-Prescott Village in Prescott, Arizona. She was born February 7, 1932 in New York City, NY, the daughter of Sperry and Helen (Adelsperger) Butler. Mary Jane was 83 years old. She married Bill Gill on September 22, 1956 and had four children named Peter, Kathy, Mike and Mary. Mary Jane was an Artist, Art Educator and an Art Therapist. She worked as a Registered Art Therapist in Des Moines for substance abusing women and for troubled children. She earned an Education degree at Smith College in 1953, received a Master’s degree in Education in 1967, received a National Award in Iowa and was named Art Educator of the year in 1985. Mary Jane worked at the state fair in Iowa for 15 years and ran the children’s art activities called “Art Attack”. She then later worked for the Cultural Center at the State Fair as Superintendent as well. After working 26 years teaching Elementary Art, she retired to go back to school and then earned an Art Therapy Certification. Mary Jane and Bill moved to Prescott in the summer of 1999 and Mary Jane enrolled in art classes at the Yavapai College. She took art reproductions into the class room and also wrote research papers for the reproductions for the Art Docents. In addition, she joined the Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott Fine Arts Association, Prescott Art Docents, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Prescott. Mary Jane loved Art and Pastel Art. She also traveled to Europe, South Africa, Japan, Canada, and Mexico. When Mary Jane was 7 years old and living back in New Rochelle, New York, Norman Rockwell moved 2 doors down from them. She was asked by Norman Rockwell to pose for him for a painting of her holding an ear of corn. The painting turned out to be a Niblets canned corn Ad. Then 62 years later Mary Jane gave tours of the Norman Rockwell show for children at the Phoenix Art Museum. She accomplished many things during her life but was most proud of her Art Work. Mary Jane is survived by her loving and caring husband of 58 years, Bill Gill; children, Peter (Merry) Gill of Nashua, NH, Kathy Gill of Warwick, NY, Mike (Maria) Gill of Plano, TX, Mary (Mike) Stuples of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA; grandchildren, Stef (Roy), Lydia (Brandon), Brian, Stephen, Amy, Mia; and brother, Charles (Ann) Butler of Lone Tree, CO. Services for Mary Jane will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2000 Shepherd’s Lane in Prescott.