Mava Jane Bruce, known as Jane, went to her Lord and Saviour on November 27, 2011. Her daughters and a niece were by her side, singing hymns and praying. She had always told them the only person we'd really want to see upon entering Heaven was Jesus. Jane's greatest dream and most earnest prayer was that her entire family come to know and yield their lives to Christ Jesus. She saw her beliefs and teaching come to fruition in her daughters and grandchildren.

On the day of her graduation from earth, her 4-year-old great-grandson, at his breakfast table in Alaska prayed, "Jesus, bless Ma-Ma. Help her to not to be sick anymore, and have fun with her." Her legacy lives on.

Jane was born 2-14-1926, to Euby and Bill Langford, in Wellington, Texas, where she lived until she married J.D. Bruce on 2-4-1944 during his short military leave. Her bravery and strength were tested a few days later as she boarded a train to travel alone to J.D.'s base in California. Thus she began putting to use all the home-making skills she learned at her mother's side and practiced on her five siblings, especially cooking. Her oldest granddaughter declared Jane "the best in the world".

Jane and J.D. moved to Longview, Texas, in January 1953, arriving during a huge ice storm with two small daughters. The family soon became part of Mobberly Avenue Baptist Church, returning again to that congregation after living in Gladewater and worshipping with Memorial Baptist Church for 10 years. Jane served her church families by teaching children's Sunday school, loving on the congregations' babies in nursery, cooking Sunday afternoon suppers for Youth Choir and many other things. She loved music, and saw to it that her three girls had music lessons. The youngest, Carol, became an accomplished vocalist bringing delight to Jane by singing in church choirs and ensembles.

All Jane had ever wanted for herself was to be a wife and mother. This she accomplished well.

Jane is survived by her daughters, Sharon Allen and her husband, Ken, of Palmer, Alaska, Dr. Elaine Shaw of Athens, Texas, and Carol Weiss and her husband, Bryan, of Longview, Texas; grandsons, Timothy Allen and wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Marcail, of Palmer, Alaska, Terry Allen and wife, Chrys, and their sons, Israel and Micah, of Juneau, Alaska, Tedman Allen and wife, Crystal, of Palmer, Alaska, and their sons, Kyler and Kaleb, Jared Cleere and wife, Jerilynn, of College Station, Texas, and Taylor Weiss of Huntsville, Texas; granddaughters, Tammy Jayne Allen of Wasilla, Alaska, and K-leigh Low of Baytown, Texas; brothers, Billy Langford and wife, Bessie, and Jimmy Langford and wife, Betty, all of Wellington, Texas, and Bobby Langford of San Marcus, Texas.

The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2011, at Lakeview Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today, November 29, 2011.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Mobberly Baptist Church Building Fund.