Mary Jane Lyons Cotter, a 30-year resident of the Lake Caroline Community in Ruther Glen, Va., passed away on Christmas Eve Eve, December 23, at the age of 85, following a courageous battle with dementia. She was surrounded by the love of her family and will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Born on May 15, 1938, in Dedham, Mass., Jane was one of six children born to John and Mabel Lyons. After graduating from Dedham High School in 1956, she pursued her passion for pediatric nursing at Children’s Hospital in Boston, Mass. In 1963, she packed her bags with a friend and drove across the country to San Francisco, CA, to become a nurse at Letterman Army Hospital.

Just one month after arriving on the West Coast, fate introduced her to the love of her life, Joseph Donald Cotter, Jr., at The Red Garter, a beer, peanuts and banjo saloon-type bistro, on Ladies Night. Their whirlwind romance led to engagement three months later, marking the beginning of a nearly 60-year love story. With Don’s squadron stationed on the U.S.S. Midway visiting Yokosuka, Japan, they had three required weddings: Japanese Prefecture, the U.S. Embassy Tokyo and the Catholic Chapel, Yokosuka, Japan, followed by a honeymoon in Tokyo, all in two weeks’ time.

Together, Jane and Don, raised three daughters while navigating the adventures of military life. Their Navy assignments took them to many locations including: Beeville, Tex., Whidbey Island, Wash., Monterey, Calif., Quonset Point, R.I., New Orleans, La., Mildenhall, England and Washington, D.C. After Don’s retirement from the Navy in 1979, they spent 16 more years in Northern Virginia until Don retired for good.

In 1995, Jane and Don realized their dream of building a waterfront home at Lake Caroline. Jane became a master crafter, devoting much of her free time to quilting and stamping, all while maintaining her life-long passion for shopping. For 18 years, the couple divided their time between Virginia and Hilton Head Island, SC. Above all, Jane found immense joy in being a devoted wife, mom and “Nana.”

Jane is survived by her adoring husband of 59 ¾ years, Don; three daughters, Kimberly Anne Boarts of Leesburg, VA, Lisa Marie Colangelo (John) of Richmond, Va. and Colleen Cotter Brannan (Scott) of Charlotte, NC. She leaves a legacy of love in her six grandchildren: Alexandra Jane Boarts, Kristen Louise Boarts, Isabella Lucia Colangelo, Gianna Virginia Colangelo, Nicholas Scott Brannan and Phoebe Jane Brannan.

A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at St. Mary of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church in Ladysmith, Va., on Friday, December 29, 2023 at Noon, with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. and reception to follow the service. With Jane allergic to most flowers, in lieu of them, the family requests donations in Jane’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Humane Society of Caroline County, recognizing her compassion for both human and furry friends alike. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in the coming months.

May the memory of Mary Jane Lyons Cotter be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew her.