August 7, 1943 - September 8, 2016

Marian Jayne McDonald Pope, a native Texan, passed peacefully from this Earth on Thursday the 8th of September in the year 2016 at age 72 after a brief battle with heart disease.

Born August 7th, 1943 in Fort Worth, TX to Marshall Wayne McDonald, Sr. and Grace Ganelle Cox, Jayne was the proud descendant of four generations of Texans and American pioneers that settled from the British Isles in colonial times.

Jayne was raised in various parts of Central and East Texas while her father advanced his career as a federal Farm Advisor, rancher and real estate agent. She was the 2nd of four children and was always quick to remind her twin brother that she was the elder.

Jayne attended public school in Franklin, Johnson City and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan Texas in 1961. Jayne played the french horn and was proud to have been a baton twirling Majorette her senior year.

After graduating from Sam Houston State University in 1965, Jayne began her teaching career in Goliad, Texas where her father served as President of the Board of Education for many years. Jayne was selected to teach the first "Head Start" program that year, an activity that heavily influenced her career in education. Head Start, a program to help meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs of preschool-aged children from low-income families, was enacted in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Johnson and his family were family friends of the McDonalds and Jayne's father was a political ally of the President from the beginning of his career.

Jayne taught second and third grade in Texas City and Conroe. In 1978, Jayne earned a Masters in Education from Sam Houston State University and was a licensed therapist and guidance counselor.

With her late husband, Calvin Pope, Jayne began a family. They were both educators in public schools in Conroe, TX prior to settling in Bryan, Texas where she helped Calvin run his insurance and financial services business. They were blessed with a son, Kemble Keith "Sonny" Pope.

Before returning to the public school system, Jayne opened, owned and operated a retail business in Post Oak Mall, the trendy clothing store Gadzooks.

Jayne ended her professional career as a public school guidance counselor where she served her students and their families with a warm and loving heart. Students will remember her welcoming smile, compassion and genuine interest in their health, well-being and success.

She officially retired from Sam Rayburn Middle School in 1997 after 30 years as an educator. From 1997 to 2014, she continued to work part-time with middle school students and was known throughout the Bryan Independent School District as the person who could teach any child to read, no matter their age or learning disability.

Jayne loved to travel with family and friends and enjoyed experiencing the culture and history of Europe, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. She absolutely adored visiting her son in Northern California which they explored in-depth over the past 14 years.

An avid philanthropist and volunteer, Jayne quietly gave her time, experience and resources to benefit many local causes including OPAS, CASA and other groups that helped disadvantaged children.

Jayne was loved and cherished by many dear friends, old and new. She will always be remembered for her innate skill to put anyone at ease and strike up meaningful conversations. Her social life was incredibly active as she regularly joined with her high school and college classmates, her Faith Sisters, Bible Study groups and birthday lunch bunches.

Jayne loved being in and near rivers, lakes and the ocean. She enjoyed hiking and snow skiing. Recently, Jayne had taken an interest and showed great skill in sketching and watercolor painting.

Jayne was a life-long member of The United Methodist Church. Later in life, she enjoyed visiting different churches and expanding her depth of knowledge and closeness to God in bible study groups and with her "Faith Sisters". Jayne read the Holy Bible in its entirety multiple times in her life.

Jayne was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Calvin Pope, her brother, Marshall Wayne McDonald, Jr. and her sister, Janelle McDonald Thrash.

Jayne is survived by her son Kemble Keith "Sonny" Pope of Davis, California, her brother Michael L. McDonald and wife Claudett of Bryan, her sister-in-law Patty McDonald of Seguin and her great-aunts (her mother's twin sisters) Wanda Cox Powers of Brownwood and Ronda Cox Heather of Brownwood; and numerous cousins from her Cox and McDonald families.

Jayne's many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews held a very special place in her heart and life.

Jayne is survived by her darling and cherished niece Pamela Gabriel (husband Kevin, children Sara and Austin) of Galveston, nephew Mark Stephenson (wife Carrie, children Lauren, Grace and Connor) of Conroe, nephew Bruce Stephenson (wife Erlinda and son Logan) of Caldwell, nephew Anthony Wayne McDonald of Seguin, nephew Brian McDonald (wife Lyndi and daughter Presley), nephew USAF Technical Sergeant Adam McDonald (wife Jessica, children Cameron, Collin, Caitlyn and Caiden) of Witchita Falls, nephew Daniel McDonald (wife Jessica) of San Antonio, nephew John Mark McDonald (wife Martha, children Valencia and Nathan) of San Antonio, nephew Billy McDonald of Corpus Christi, and niece Linda McDonald (children Heaven, Joshua and his wife Jennifer) of San Antonio.

The Memorial Funeral Chapel of Bryan, Texas has been entrusted with arrangements. A visitation for family and friends will be held at Memorial Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, September 14th from 5pm to 8pm.

Jayne's life will be honored at a service at First United Methodist Church in Bryan, Texas on Thursday, September 15th at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. All are welcome to join together at both events.

Flowers are welcome. Memorial gifts may be made to "Voices for Children, CASA of Brazos Valley" or to "Go Red for Women", a campaign by the American Heart Association that encourages the awareness of the issue of women and heart disease and to increase awareness of the warning signs that are specific to women. To donate, visit the website https://donatenow.heart.org/