Mary Jane Saxon

OBITUARY
MARY JANE SAXON

Mary Jane McKinzie DeBrouwer Saxon entered this world on November 10, 1916 in Santa Ana, California, and left this world on April 16, 2015 in Westminster, California at the age of 98.  She was born to James Lee Mckinzie and Catherine Walsh McKinzie and was the youngest of five children.  She and her family were stricken with typhoid fever in 1924, when she was a mere seven years old.  Her mother Catherine and brother James succumbed to the battle, but Mary Jane miraculously survived.  She went on to marry Victor Francis DeBrouwer, move to South Gate, California, and, have four children.

To her, family was truly the most important thing.  She would organize large family gatherings so that she could have all the family in the same place at the same time.  She would prepare a feast for all, including special treats, like her signature “Angel Fluff” or her “Ranger Cookies,” and you’d taste the love she baked into each bite.  She planned large Easter egg hunts for all of her grandchildren.  When the children got better at finding the eggs, she buried them to make the hunt more challenging.  Each child scoured the backyard looking for her elusive “golden eggs,” in which she had placed an extra special treat.  She would drag her brittle arthritic bones to every family function and/or sporting event as often as she was able.  She would do this without complaint, even though she was often in immense pain, which is just another testament to how much she truly loved her family.

She was an accomplished seamstress mending clothes and making quilts for many.  Her handmade creations are found in many homes of her family, friends, and special acquaintances alike.  Christmas time, baby showers, and birthdays often saw the gift of a special creation.  She also worked in the clothing industry as a sales consultant for Shirley’s Dress Shop in Huntington Beach.  She had a flare for putting a look together for her customers and making suggestions to help her customers put their best foot forward.  She studied and taught herself proper etiquette.  With her nose in a book written by Emily Post, It was important to her that she behaved properly in varied situations and put her own best foot forward.

She was an animal lover and seldom without a pet, be it dog, bird, fish, or tortoise.  She eventually raised Boston Terriers, falling in love with the dogs and characteristics of the breed.  She was an elite dog breeder who treated all of her puppies like her children and all of her customers like family.  Her puppies were often allowed to take over her kitchen while she sipped her morning coffee.  She was successful in finding loving homes for numerous litters of puppies and her customers would often write back to her with anecdotal stories and/or Christmas cards about how their newest family member had progressed.  A little of herself went with each puppy she sold, and her extended family grew along the way.

She was preceded in death by husband, Charles Trevnor Saxon, ex-husband, Victor Francis DeBrouwer, sisters, Mable McKinzie Jordon and Violet McKinzie Doerkson, brothers, James McKinzie Jr. and George McKinzie, and great-grandson, Jack Nicholls.

She is survived by daughter, Marie Baird of Huntington Beach, Son, Ray DeBrouwer of Laguna Niguel, daughter, Darlene Burford of Costa Mesa, and, son and daughter-in-law, Victor and Charlene DeBrouwer of Las Vegas.  She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Mark Baird, Shelley Dolney, Heather Dykes, Kirk Cross, Kellie Cross-Marsh, Kevin Burford, Scott DeBrouwer, and Blaine DeBrouwer; and 13 great grandchildren, Alexandra Dolney, Joseph Dolney, Flynn Nicholls, McKenna Nicholls, Colleen Cross, Rachel Cross, Kevin Cross, Hunter Marsh, Walker Marsh, Dylan (Scotty) DeBrouwer, Kristyn DeBrouwer, Ryan Fisher, and Ayden DeBrouwer.  Additionally, she survived by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and close family friends.

Mary Jane (aka, Jerri, Nana, Great Nana, Nana Santa Ana, and Red) our family matriarch will be greatly missed.  As a survivor of devastating typhoid fever, the legacy she leaves behind is evidence of her tenacity and loving spirit where she placed family as her highest priority.  Long lasting memories have been created over her lifetime with each of the many lives she touched.