Saturday, September 15, 2001
Mary Jane Booth, 64, was known to almost everyone who worked at Dulles International Airport.
She had worked for American Airlines for 45 years and was secretary to American's general managerat Dulles for more than three decades, arriving just a few years after the airport opened. There were few things about the place or its people that she didn't know.
"At this airport, she was a mother to everyone," said Dennis Hazell, the latest who had come to think of himself as "her" general manager.
"At this airport, she was a mother to everyone," said Dennis Hazell, the latest who had come to think of himself as "her" general manager.
On Tuesday, Booth boarded her airline's Flight 77, en route to a Las Vegas meeting of the employees' credit union. As word spread that she was aboard the plane that hit the Pentagon, hotels, flower shops and other businesses with which she had dealt began sending condolences to her boss.
Everyone called her MJ, said Jackie Lewis, her counterpart at Northwest Airlines -- except at the annual American Airlines holiday party, when she dressed the part and everyone called her Mrs. Santa Claus.
"She was the friendly glue that kept everybody together," airport manager Keith Meurlin said. "She'd take you under her wing and teach you the airline business. If there was a tough decision, it was not uncommon for me to pick up the phone and ask what impact it would have on her operation. At Dulles, everybody knew her."
Booth spent most of her life in Northern Virginia, growing up in Arlington and settling in Falls Church.
She was widowed two years ago and had no children.
Her sister, Nancy Kimbell, lives in Dallas, and she also is survived by a niece, Kendra, and a nephew, Keith.
Mary Jane was a devoted daughter, wife, sister, and aunt. She was full of life and enjoyed each day helping others.
Mary Jane Booth, 64, was a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, growing up in Arlington and settling in Falls Church. She had worked for American Airlines for 45 years and was secretary to American's general manager at Dulles International Airport for more than three decades, arriving shortly after the airport opened. She was known by almost everyone who worked at Dulles, and there were few things about the airport or its people that she didn't know. "She was the friendly glue that kept everyone together," airport manager, Keith Meurlin said. "She'd take you under her wing and teach you the airline business."
"At this airport, she was a mother to everyone," said Dennis Hazell, the latest who had come to think of himself as "her" general manager. She was fondly called "M.J." except at the annual American Airlines holiday party, when she dressed the part and everyone called her Mrs. Santa Claus.
On September 11, M.J. boarded her airline's Flight 77, en route to a Las Vegas meeting of the employees' credit union. As word spread that she was aboard the plane that hit the Pentagon, hotels, flower shops, and other businesses with which she had dealt, began sending condolences.
Mary Jane had lost her husband, Jim, some 18 months before September 11. They had no children, but she loved her yellow Labrador retriever, Addie, as if she were one. She spent many hours exercising, gardening and cooking, and enjoyed the love and fellowship of her family and many friends.
BOOTH, JAMES HOUSTON JR
SP4 US ARMY
DATE OF BIRTH: 07/19/1938
DATE OF DEATH: 01/25/2000
BURIED AT: SECTION 5-B ROW 3 SITE 5
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
SP4 US ARMY
DATE OF BIRTH: 07/19/1938
DATE OF DEATH: 01/25/2000
BURIED AT: SECTION 5-B ROW 3 SITE 5
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
BOOTH, MARY JANE
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/18/1936
DATE OF DEATH: 09/11/2001
BURIED AT: SECTION 5-B ROW 3 SITE 5
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WIFE OF BOOTH, JAMES HOUSTON JR , SP4 US ARMY
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/18/1936
DATE OF DEATH: 09/11/2001
BURIED AT: SECTION 5-B ROW 3 SITE 5
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WIFE OF BOOTH, JAMES HOUSTON JR , SP4 US ARMY
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