Mary Jean Fanning, 90, of Abilene passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in an Abilene nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Bailey Howard Funeral Home Chapel with Terry Lambert officiating. Burial will follow in Buffalo Gap Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Mary was born February 6, 1934, in Abilene to Jack Alva and Johnnie (Heffernan) Stansbury. She attended Locust Elementary and graduated from Abilene High School. She married Norman Nelson Adams in Abilene in 1961. She worked as a physical therapist for many years and was a member of the Baptist Church. She later married T. Sgt. Francis (Frank) Fanning in 1969, until his death in 1983.

Formally known as Jean Stansbury, she sang on the Slim Willet Show on KRBC Radio, then television. She started out singing at the Hillbilly Circus, which became the Big State Jamboree. She recorded records with her cousin and his band, Shorty Underwood and the Brush Cutters, as well as on her own. She also had her "All Girl Band" in the late 50's. She was on the Slim Willet Show with the Gatlin Brothers when they got their start.

She is survived by two sons, Kevin Adams and wife Evelyn and Norman Adams, all of Abilene; one grandson, Kevin Douglas Adams, II and many cousins and extended family.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and her husband.