Florence Elizabeth Jayne

Florence Elizabeth Jayne went to be with the Lord on March 30, 2021, at the age of 81.  She was born on January 18, 1940, in Philadelphia, PA., to John and Florence Powell. 

She spent most of her childhood in Broomall, PA, and graduated from Marple-Newtown high school in 1957 where she enjoyed art, French, and Latin.  Following high school, she attended Moore Institute of Art, Science & Industry earning a Bachelor of Science in Art Education.  Her first teaching job was in Williamsport, PA., teaching art and mechanical drawing at a high school.  Florence always wanted to teach and live in the mountains, so in 1964, she and a friend decided to move to Alaska to teach.  They took a driving tour across the entire country and got as far as Quilcene, WA., when on March 27, 1964, the Great Alaska Earthquake shook Alaska for more than 4 minutes launching several deadly tsunamis and triggering landslides.  This event caused Florence to settle into a teaching job in Quilcene, Washington instead of continuing to Alaska.  

In September 1964, she met Jim Jayne through a mutual acquaintance and a courtship started.  They were married on June 27, 1965, at a church in Quilcene.  They enjoyed taking the ferry across Puget Sound to take in shows in Seattle.  Jim was a forester for the United States Forest Service working on the Olympic National Forest.  In December 1969, they both decided they had seen enough rain and moved their family to Paisley, Oregon, where Jim had transferred to a new job on the Fremont National Forest.  In Paisley, Florence gave herself to raising their 3 children, Laura, John, and Tim.  She did not work full time but worked as a substitute teacher and loved teaching art.  She spent most of her free time painting landscapes and pictures of old buildings that used to be in Paisley.  She was well known for painting pictures of the old Hotel Chewacan for people.  Every year at the Paisley Mosquito Festival she would set up a booth to paint and sell paintings.  Florence was an active member in her church and in many groups in the community.  She enjoyed time with friends playing Bridge and Pinochle.  In her later years, she loved to volunteer her time to teach art to kids at the local charter school.

She is survived by her sister, Joan Riha: Her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Tim Edwards; Her son and Daughter-in-law, John & Brooke Jayne; her son Tim Jayne; and 7 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jim Jayne.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am at the Paisley Community Center, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. Followed by a committal at Paisley Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made in Florence’s memory to the Paisley School District C/O the art program, PO Box 97, Paisley, OR 97636, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

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