Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Forbes Tate, Mary Jane July 6 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: k taylor bluewolf@onemain.com August 1, 2004, 1:20 pm The Bakersfield Californian Mary Jane Forbes Tate 11/28/1912 7/6/2004 Mary Jane Forbes Tate died on Tuesday, July 6, in San Luis Obispo. She was 91 years old. She was born in San Luis Obispo on November 28, 1912. Mary Jane graduated from San Jose State College in 1935 with a degree in teaching. Mary Jane married Leonard Frank Tate of Paso Robles in 1933. They moved to Orange County to teach in 1938, and then to Bakersfield in 1940. They both taught in Bakersfield schools for many years, Leonard at East Bakersfield High School. Mary Jane first taught in Bakersfield at Mountain View School in Lamont, then River Boulevard School in 1952, followed by becoming counselor at Jefferson School, then head of the counseling staff at Colonel Baker School, finally ending as Girls Counselor at Compton Junior High School. She remained there until her retirement in 1967. During her years in Bakersfield, Mary Jane was an active member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church, Retired Teachers Association, East Bakersfield High School Faculty Wives, Y.W.C.A., American Association Of University Women, and A.A.R.P. She was a member of the Rediviva and Delta Zeta Sororities and Kappa Delta Pi, the Honorary Education Society. She was a life member of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers. She served as a worker at the Guild House for ten years, helping to raise funds for the Child Guidance Clinic. Mary Jane was an enthusiastic golfer and prized her membership in the Gourmet Golfers. Mary Jane was an avid environmentalist. She and her family spent many happy summers backpacking along the John Muir Trail in the Sierras and camping throughout the western U.S. Mary Jane helped found the Sierra Club Chapter in Bakersfield and held memberships in the Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. After retirement, Mary Jane and her husband moved to Paso Robles where she was very active in the Templetons Womens Club, Second Milers, Templeton Historical Society, A.A.U.W., Retired Teachers, Central Coast Highland Society, and Friends of the Adobes. Best of all, Mary Jane loved dancing with the Conestoga Cloggers and the Golden Troupers of the Class Act Dance Studio. She was delighted when her group was invited to dance at Disneyland, several years in a row. In 2001, Mary Jane moved to SeaOaks Mobile Home Park in Los Osos. She continued her many activities in Paso Robles, and began to dance with The Strutters, a line-dancing group. She also added book groups and Tai Chi to her busy schedule of activities. Mary Jane will always be remembered for her love of dancing and her willingness to go anywhere, anytime someone asked. Her motto became Bags packed; will travel! Whether it was to lunch, an outing to the beach, a show, a trip it didnt matter, she was ready to go. She never turned down an invitation to get together and party. Mary Jane is survived by her children: Heather Deane Tate Johnson and Judith Arleen Tate Burcher; son-in-law, James W. Johnson; grandchildren: Jennifer Lynn and Judith Leigh Young; and stepgrandchildren: Christopher Johnson, James Anthony Johnson, Lauren Johnson, and Brooke Johnson. Mary Jane requested that no services be held. Charitable contributions may be made to the San Luis Obispo Sierra Club or the San Luis Obispo Historical Society. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/gob984forbesta.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb