(Alpha) Jane Dorsett Edwards, former lifetime resident of Sundance, WY passed away July 16, 2016 with her family by her side in Mesa, AZ.
Jane was born on Dec. 14, 1920 to David and Marie Dorsett near Albion, MT. She was one of two children, the older brother being Harold. The family,
experiencing the hardships of World War I, was separated much of the time in order to make ends meet. Jane’s dad worked as a ranch hand in various locations, and her mother taught school. As a result Jane felt the separation similar to a family experiencing divorce. She always vowed to create a solid life for her family when she married and had children.
She attended school in Moorcroft, Rozet, Sheridan and Sundance, Wyo., where she graduated from high school. She attended Black Hills Teachers College (now Black Hills State College) where she got her teacher’s certificate. After graduation, she taught at a country school known as Miller Creek School for one year. During that year she met Allan Edwards, Spearfish, SD, and they were married June 1, 1941.
They built their life together and raised two daughters on their ranch south of Sundance. Jane took on the role of a rancher’s wife which involved preparing three large meals a day (frequently including extra people who were helping with ranch work), growing and preserving all the vegetables for the year, raising chickens to eat during the year, keeping a spotless home, washing and ironing the whole family’s clothes, and giving all the love and support she had vowed as a young girl. To say the least this role was not an easy one, and she did it with love in her heart and never a complaint.
In 1967 they sold their ranch and moved to Sundance. Jane worked for Sundance Equipment and then for 15 years at Tracy Motor Co. as a bookkeeper, a profession she loved, until she retired in 1986. After retirement, Jane and Allen enjoyed traveling with friends across the country and they started spending the winters in Lake Havasu City, AZ. In 2002 they moved to Chandler, AZ to be close to their daughters and grandsons.
Jane loved to play bridge and belonged to various bridge groups. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a 4-H leader for the girls, director of Make It Yourself with Wool, Worthy Matron in Eastern Star, Guardian for Job’s Daughters, Bethel #43, and Grand Guardian for Wyoming Job’s Daughters.
Jane was preceded in death by Allan after celebrating their 73rd anniversary, baby daughter Lynne Carole, her brother and her parents. She will be sadly missed by her daughters Jan (Danny) Hopson and Linda Elder; grandsons Paul Sipe, Christopher (Andrea) Sipe and Shaun(Tracey)Hopson; great grandchildren Regann and Nolan Sipe; protem son Doug (Lee) Hughes; nephews Chuck, Norm, John and Carl Edwards and David Dorsett; nieces Diane Boyer and Delores Broadway.
Services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard in Sundance, Wyoming on September 10, 2016 at 1pm. Burial will follow at Green Mountain Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial to honor Jane will be set up for “The Summit at Sunland Springs” where Jane resided for the past 2 ½ years.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 3464 East Clifton Avenue Gilbert, Arizona 85295.
Deepest condolences to the family . I remember visting Jane and Allen as a kid – and visiting Aunt Marie in her home in Sundance . They were the nicest people.