Mary Jayne, "MJ" Wolfe

Mary Jayne Wolfe (nee Plumley), 78, of Grand Rapids, MI, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of July 12th, 2025. She was born on August 5, 1946, in Indianapolis, IN. She is preceded in death by her parents; Francis and Ruth, her two older brothers, Art and Robert, and her husband, Steve Detmer.

Mary Jayne, or MJ as she preferred to be called, loved learning. She held multiple master’s degrees, was an avid reader, and regularly consulted her home library for answers to all of life’s questions. From early life, MJ enjoyed learning about the world and spending time in nature. In summer she would swim, boat, fish, and explore close to her family’s beloved cabin in Minnesota. After college, she moved to Guam for many years where she went scuba diving among shipwrecks, explored other pacific islands, and loved South Pacific and Japanese culture. Her second home was always the ocean. She had a deep love for all living things - from her beloved pets to supporting wildlife and conservation efforts.

MJ enjoyed reading murder mysteries, watching documentaries, seeing the northern lights, and greeting thunderstorms at her lake cottage. She loved getting lost in a book as much as she did on the road. Countless times she would stop to look at a bird, rescue or tend to wounded animals (including transporting a wild raccoon in the back seat of her car), or take a turn down an interesting road to see what secrets it held. Family road trips were a tradition - first with her parents and brothers, then with her own family.

She had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh, and always wanted to have fun. With a playful spirit she looked for the light in darkness, and encouraged others to live life to the fullest. MJ was self-reliant, a survivor, and a hard worker. Throughout her 50-year career in health care she helped those in need, and thrived as a medical social worker in the Emergency Room at St. Mary’s Hospital for 35 years.

To say MJ was a decent human being is an understatement, and she was often underestimated. She was a force of nature - fiercely loyal to those she cared for, and a tireless advocate for those in need of medical and psychological attention, as well as wildlife, the environment, and those less fortunate. She was a lifelong advocate for civil and women’s rights, even marching with Martin Luther King Jr.. She encouraged her children to pursue their passions, in academics and the arts, and instilled in them her humor, creativity, curiosity, and love of the natural world.

She is survived by her children,Chris and Karyn (Chris Babbitt), and her three grandchildren; Jamie, Sofia, and Harry. Her family will celebrate her life by traveling, and showing her grandchildren her favorite places.

In her last few months, while at home, with her books, her music, her adventures, and her loving family, MJ would occasionally wake from a dream, one where she was packing for a trip. Now she has embarked on her next great adventure. She will be sorely missed.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Land Conservancy of West Michigan or the Ocean Conservancy, or other environmental or wildlife organizations, in lieu of flowers. For a more personal gift, her family is accepting donations (via GoFundMe) to fund a trip to Minnesota, to spread her ashes as she wished.