Jane Eva Beckwith Koontz, 86, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Saturday, July 13, 2019.
Born July 23, 1932, in Ithaca, New York, to Earl and Marie Beckwith, she was raised on a dairy farm in Ludlowville, New York, which nurtured her love of all God’s creatures. She was the fifth of seven children. In the late 1940’s, her family moved to Asheville. She attended Lee Edwards High School and earned an associate degree from St. Genevieve of the Pines Jr. College in Asheville. While working for the FBI in Charlotte, she met her lifelong sweetheart, Conley Koontz, and they married in 1954. They moved to Southport in 1966 following the birth of three daughters.
They partnered with Wilson and Geneva Massengill to establish K&M Marine Sales and Service at the newly opened Small Boat Harbor. In the following years, they also owned and operated K & M Fuel Sales and K & M Exxon Service Station. Other business ventures included Southport Napa Auto Parts and Classic Ships. Both were avid Carolina basketball fans. She loved walking her dog, Setha, on the Cape Fear River beach.
She was a patriot who showed great love for her country and loved a good marching band. Having been a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 53 years, she fulfilled numerous roles including Sunday school teacher from children to adults, prayer group and prayer chain leader, VBS leader and teacher, cofounder of Stephen Ministry and was involved in the Emmaus community. Little children and old flocked to her for a hug anytime they saw her.
Her kindness and compassion for all was shared throughout her community, whether on her front porch or in her place of business. As a conduit for God’s love and wisdom, she was a faithful prayer warrior and spiritual mentor. Her wish for all who knew her was that the good and strength they saw in her came from her faith and hope in her Lord Jesus Christ.
Ms. Jane, fondly known as “Mama Jane,” was preceded in death by her husband, Conley David Koontz; two brothers, George Beckwith and Bob Beckwith; and three sisters, Marie Baron, Jinny Varga and Phyllis Clevenger.
Survivors include her three daughters, Karen Rouse, and her partner, Chuck McFall, of Madison, Janice Honeycutt, and her husband, Ed, of Unicoi, Tennessee, and Linda Koontz, and her partner, David Pearsall, of Boiling Springs Lake; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; faithful companion, Setha Mae; sister, Dorothy “Dottie” Lee of Hampstead; brother-in-law, James Harold Clevenger of Weaverville; and brother-in-law, Leon, and his wife, Betty Koontz, of Lexington.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 18, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Southport, with a reception following in Murrow Hall. She requested everyone wear bright colors.
In lieu of flowers, Jane requested memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church, the Gideons, Paws Place or Lower Cape Fear Hospice.
Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
