Mary Jane Coker, 76, of Terre Haute entered eternal life on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Mary Jane, a State of Indiana Licensed Social Worker, was born in Terre Haute on June 12, 1949 to Gertrude Vollmuth Coker and Charles M. Coker.

Mary Jane attended St. Ann Elementary School, graduated from Paul Schulte High School in 1967, and from Indiana State University's College of Arts & Sciences in 1971. She began her career in workforce development with a West Central Indiana social services office, receiving her Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Board professional license in 1993. The main part of her career was with the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services Administration's (IDFSSA) Terre Haute bureau, where she specialized in vocational rehabilitation counseling and workforce development. Following changes at IDFFSA, she completed her working years with First Financial Bank's Collections Department, retiring after 14 years of service.

Mary Jane's humanitarian and personal vocations came together in 2002, when she was professed into the Roman Catholic Church's Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) and its local fraternity at St. Joseph University Parish. That same year, she received the Wabash Valley Optimist Club's Humanitarian of the Year Award.

As a follower of St. Francis of Assisi, Mary Jane's care of animals, particularly Shelter dogs like her Sharpei mix, Harry Potter, and her interest in growing herbs and heirloom tomatoes, particularly included service to St. Rose of Viterbo Secular Franciscan Fraternity as secretary, treasurer, councilor and president. She was instrumental in the fraternity's hosting of a regional conference in 2011 which featured the International Fraternity's General Spiritual Assistant from Rome, Italy, Friar Martin Bitzer, OFM. Conv., as speaker.

Mary Jane was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Marine Corps Veteran Master Gunnery Sergeant James "Jimmy" Coker of Sneed's Ferry, SC; William Coker and Joseph Coker, both of Terre Haute; her aunts, Jane Vollmuth and Carmelite Sister Joan Coker; and her uncle, the Reverend William Vollmuth, priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, March 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph University Parish, 113, South Fifth Street, Terre Haute. Visitation takes place in the Church from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial follows at Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute. In place of flowers, kindly consider a memorial donation to Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, St. Joseph University Parish, the Humane Society of Terre Haute, or a charity of your choice.