Jane Elizabeth Bailey

Jane Elizabeth Bailey, 68, of Olympia, Washington, peacefully passed away at her home on April 3, 2016 at 6:44 a.m., after a long battle with cancer. Born in Buffalo, New York to Theodore Wilhelm and Gladys Elizabeth (Holton) Hoyler on May 23, 1947, Jane was an only child. She married Dennis Lee Bailey in Tonawanda, New York on November 27, 1971. She lived with her husband in Pine Island, Minnesota from 1971 through November of 2014 when she moved to Olympia, Washington to be close to her two children and all of her grandchildren. Jane was athletic her entire life, from swimming at six months of age to volunteering on the Welch Village ski patrol until she was 55 years old. If she had not moved during high school, she would have earned the honor of being the “most athletic”. Jane was not just competitive but she enjoyed sports such as synchronized swimming where she felt a sense of “moving with the music.” Her adventurous spirit took her many places. The summer after graduating from Kenmore West Senior High School in New York, she and childhood friend, Karen, travelled throughout Europe, driving 11,000 miles in 11 weeks on $1,100. As a young girl, Jane was very involved in the United Methodist Church where she sang in the youth choir and was president of the Youth Congregation. Even as an adult and throughout her marriage to Dennis the Methodist Church remained an intentional part of her life. Jane graduated from Syracuse University where she was first a copy editor and then the editor-in-chief for State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry where she earned her Forest/Chemistry degree. Jane also served as the Awards Chairman for both the Boy and Girl Scouts and frequently volunteered at her local YMCA and with the Special Olympics. Jane worked for nearly 30 years at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as a research technician. Jane was constantly learning and exploring. From her travels all around the globe to her life goal of visiting every national park, she was truly fascinated by the world around her. Her love of gardening led her to become a master naturalist and start her own landscaping business. When she wasn’t traveling or volunteering, she spent her free time refining and expanding her garden while teaching everyone about nature and geography. One of her great legacies to her beloved family was her passionate and thorough documentation of her family’s life through pictures and stories. Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Gladys Hoyler. Her surviving family includes her husband, Dennis Bailey; children, Theodore (Robin) Bailey and Elizabeth (Brian) Woods; and her grandchildren, Natalie Bailey, William Bailey, Lydia Bailey, Anika Bailey, Makana Woods and Levi Woods. As an expression of sympathy, the family suggests memorial donations be sent to the surviving spouse, Dennis Bailey, through a memorial account (#3875302048) established at Wells Fargo Bank in his name. Donations will be used for funeral expenses and to support the following charities: Boy and Girl Scouts, Hospice, Special Olympics, YMCA, Cancer Research, and her local church. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” ~ Psalm 23:6 (KJV) Please leave memories of Jane or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.