Jane Meredith Toney Mathews, age 94, died peacefully on Dec. 12, 2010, as a result of a brief illness.

She was born in Piedmont, Mo., to William Ashby Toney and Jeanette Bunyard Toney on St. Patrick’s Day 1916. Her father, a pharmacist who had contracted tuberculosis as the result of a World War I gas attack, had to move the family in 1932 to the drier climes of Albuquerque, N.M., in order to improve his health. There, Jane finished high school and studied art at the University of New Mexico, a love that continued her entire life. While visiting relatives in Piedmont she met a young engineer from Starkville who was working on Wappapello Dam for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On Sept. 7, 1937, she married Arther Lee Mathews at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque. For the nine years before their eldest son was born, the couple moved over 120 times to various Corps project sites in the early years of Arther Lee’s engineering career with the Soils Division of Waterways Experiment Station.

They finally settled to raise a family in Vicksburg, where they remained for 36 years. Jane was active in many civic and cultural organizations, including “Gold in the Hills,” the Miss Mississippi Pageant and the Pink Ladies at Mercy Hospital. She taught art for several years at All Saints’ Episcopal College and substituted with the Vicksburg public schools and Hinds Community College for many years. She enjoyed playing bridge, hosting parties for her friends and traveling to many foreign countries.

Jane was always ready to try a new adventure and had the courage to pursue many interests and bring encouragement to those around her. Some were surprised that such a refined lady could also climb mountains in New Mexico and shoot a rifle with great accuracy.

After her husband’s retirement from the Corps, consulting jobs with McClelland Engineers took them on new travels over the U.S. for 20 years until Jane and Arther Lee moved back to Albuquerque where her mother lived along with many old friends. She remained there for 24 years before declining health required her move back to Vicksburg where her son William could care for her.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years in 1996.

Jane is survived by her sons, Toney Adams Mathews, P.E., of Charlotte, N.C. (wife Virginia Hinton Mathews) and William Lee Mathews, J.D., of Vicksburg (wife Elizabeth Hunter Mathews and her son Henry Hunter and daughter-in-law Liz). She has one grandson, David Charles Shroyer, and one great-granddaughter, Kailyn Dail Shroyer, both of Charlotte.

Jane had a lifelong love of music, which was especially meaningful to her in her latter years. She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and memorials may be made to them at 900 South St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to a symphony orchestra of the donor’s choice. A memorial service will be held at the church Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service.