Mary Jane Ream was born July 5, 1930 in Clearmont, Wyoming. She passed away at the age of 86 on February 27, 2017 in Porterville, California.

She grew up attending local schools. She would also help her father with tending the family cattle and crops before moving to and graduating from Sheridan High School in Wyoming.

After graduating she moved with her parents Fred and Emma Dykes to Missouri where the family did some share cropping. They relocated when the weather got right time to in Medford, Oregon where Mary went to work at the local bakery. This is where she would meet her future husband Marvin Earl Ream. They were married 62 years together. After marriage she worked at the local dry cleaners and Pears Industry. In 1955 they moved to Porterville, California She recalled how upset she was that our father had traded the only car they had as a down payment on a piece of land and a shack without telling her first.

She went to work at formerly the Porterville State Hospital, now known as the Porterville Developmental Center as a Psych Tech for 30 years. After retiring she worked on the registry for another 15 years.

She spoke often of the many people she enjoyed working with throughout her years. She loved the family small ranch crops and raising Red Angus Cattle who grew to learn about her Strong Boxing Techniques. She loved listening to country music and the family would gather to listen to them play and they would all sing with her. She enjoyed cooking the family holiday dinners. Her family awarded her with the title of "Best Gopher Terminator". A title she took with great honor, bragging to others of how many she caught this week or last month. Her family is proud to call her the Best. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and in the later years her great grandchildren.

She is survived by her six children; Karen Smith Pllez (Hector Pllez) of Springville, Carol Mills of Porterville, Joyce Ream Ferguson (Marty Ferguson) of Porterville, Brian Ream (Myrna) of Tehachapi, Keith Ream of Montana and Steven Ream (Jeanie) of Porterville, also 13 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Marvin E. Ream, parents Fred and Emma Dykes, one sister Helen Royston of Medford, Oregon.

There will be a visitation on Sunday March 5, 2017 from 8:30-12:00, service will begin at 1:30pm at Whitehurst-Peters-Loyd Chapel. The graveside service and burial with her beloved husband, who was a Korean War Veteran, will be on Monday March 6, 2017 10:00am at the Bakersfield National Cemetery, Arvin, California.

We will all love and miss her. To sign Mary's online register book or leave a message of condolence please visit www.whitehurstfuneral.com.

For additional information contact Whitehurst-PetersLoyd Funeral & Cremation Service: 195 N. Hockett St., Porterville.

The Porterville Recorder - Mar. 2, 2017.