Columbus, OH — Mary Rose Landess, 89, of Portland, Ind., died Dec. 22, 2021, in Persimmon Ridge Healthcare in Portland.

Mary and Jerry Landess. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

She was born in Deerfield, Ind., on Nov. 8, 1932, the daughter of Fred and Lucille (Myers) Gelzleichter. She was married on Dec. 2, 1951, to Jerry Landess and he died Oct. 13, 2020.

Mrs. Landess was a homemaker and helped her husband in the harness racing business. She was an avid reader and animal lover. She loved her family and going to her great granddaughter Justice’s softball games. She was a Jefferson High School graduate in Randolph County.

Surviving are her son, Gary (companion Shirley); daughter, Lisa Reyes; sister-in-law, Martha Moyer; cousin, Rebecca Edwards; granddaughter, Kylie Sciortino; great-grandchildren, Justice Day, Joseph Sciortino and Jasper Sciortino; step-grandchildren, Paul Reyes, Regina Perez and Coryne Gonzalez; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Jimmy; grandson, Jerry Day; brother, Fred Gelzleichter; sister, Barbara Messimore; and son-in-law, Pablo Reyes.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Jay County Humane Society.

Baird-Freeman Funeral Home are handling the arrangements.