Mary Jane Barton

Mary Jane Barton, age 57, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at her Valley Center residence. She was born October 5, 1965, in Iola, Kansas to Herbert and Lorna (Siefker) Dolen.

Mary Jane graduated from Marmaton Valley High School in 1984. After high school,  she attended Allen County Community College where she graduated in 1986 and then finished her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wichita State University in 1988. She worked at Pepsi and Pizza Hut Corporation while in college. Mary Jane passed her CPA exam in 1991. She worked at Ascension Via Christi for 32 years and was currently a Finance Analytics Manager. She also loved doing taxes and would help people during tax season as time allowed.

On May 26, 1990, she married Roger Barton in Iola, Kansas. Mary Jane and Roger shared almost 33 years together. In the early years of their marriage prior to having children, Mary Jane and Roger spent a lot of time traveling in the U.S. with their goal to visit all 50 states together. Before her passing they had visited 39 states together with the last family vacation in 2021 going to New York and New Jersey.

Mary Jane was a woman of great faith and a member of Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS where she attended and served in the children’s programs such as AWANA and VBS. Her favorite title and one she held dearly to her was being a mother and grandmother. She was a devout mother and ensured she raised her children well and for the Lord in addition to giving them a wonderful childhood. In her spare time, Mary Jane enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling, and playing games like Yahtzee, Scrabble and Nertz with her family. You could count on Mary Jane eating tomato sandwiches for lunch during the summer and have family game nights regularly. Mary Jane was a highly creative and thoughtful person and would regularly go out of her way to take care and love on those around her. She always found so much joy in bringing happiness to her friends and family.

She is survived by her husband Roger; daughter Kayla (Caleb) Claussen; 3 sons Jarrett, Derek, and Isaac Barton; brother Don Dolen; 3 sisters Lorna Ludlum, Dianne Kauth and Donna Stucky. She is also survived by 2 grandchildren Sadie and Sage Claussen.

Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Lorna Dolen and grandparents, A.W. and Hilda Siefker who raised Mary Jane since she was 4 years old.

A private family graveside service was held at the Valley Center Cemetery on Wednesday, May 3^rd. A Celebration of Life for Mary Jane will take place on May 26^th, 2023, from 2-4 pm at Riverlawn Christian Church in the Fireside Room. The address is 4243 N Meridian Ave, Wichita, KS 67204.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be made directly to Roger Barton to help offset expenses and may be left with Petersen Funeral Home.