Mary Jane Shanks

Mary Jane McElwee Shanks, 83, of Roanoke, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 12, 2025. She was preceded death by her loving husband, Fred Shanks Jr.; parents, James and Mary McElwee; daughter, Dawn Letchford; and siblings, George Nelson “Sonny” McElwee, Alice “Sissy” Dawson, Eleanor Crawford, and James “Buddy” McElwee.

Mary Jane is survived by children, Tammy Monroe (James), Jeff Cauley, Tracey Smith (Andrew), and Ray Shanks (Emily); grandchildren, Jamie Monroe (Kristie Jo), Dakota Shockley (Jacob), Steven Snyder, Amber Exposito, Brittany Young, Cassidy Smith, Autumn Shanks, Hannah Shanks, Laurel Shanks, and Troy Shanks; great grandchildren, Raylin Monroe, Thomas Shockley, Emmalynn Shockley, Kristen Snyder, Andrew Snyder, and Waylon Jessee; sister, Frances Wilson; and multiple loving nieces and nephews.

She was queen of the local Red Hat Society. She loved to read, drag race Corvettes, and participated in Cowboy fastdraw. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren. She was known to feed the squirrels and birds. She liked antiques and collectibles, loved visiting with good friends and neighbors, and enjoyed eating anything chocolate.

The family will have a Visitation on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 12:30 – 1:30pm with a Chapel Service at 1:30pm both at Simpson Funeral Home, 5160 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, VA 24019. Interment will be at Mill Creek Cemetery, Fincastle, VA.