Jane L. Appleton

Jane Lucile “Hawley” Appleton, 84, of Sedalia, died on Monday, July 2, 2018 at the Ridge Crest Nursing Center in Warrensburg, Missouri. She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Jane was born on April 7, 1934 in Laurens, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jay Myron Appleton; her father, Charles Frederick Hawley; mother, Leone Louise “Davidson” Hawley; brother-in-law, Donald Harry Woodin; nieces, Mary Kay “Hawley” Larson and Gloria Ann “Hawley” Grice; nephews, Dan Lee Woodin and David Charles Ray Woodin.

Jane is survived by her sister Gretchen Lee “Hawley” Woodin and her half-brother, Leland John (Jeanette) Hawley of Laurens, Iowa; her sons, Charles Eugene (Katherine Knepper) of Warrensburg, Missouri; Bret Jay (Deborah Thomas) of Sedalia, Missouri; grandchildren, Jason (Anne Cain) of Chandler, Arizona; Donelle (Mark Walterbach) of Overland Park, Kansas; Janine (Justin Ebach) of Nashville, Tennessee; Jeremy Appleton of Sedalia, Missouri; Charles D. (Bailey Sue Morris) of Warrensburg, Missouri; and great grandchildren, Benjamin and Lexi Appleton; Charlotte and Judah Ebach; Leona Jane, Rosalie and Emmaline Walterbach; and Allie Dee Appleton.

Jane graduated from Laurens High School in 1951. She attended college at the University of Colorado in Boulder and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1955. Jane married Jay Myron Appleton on June 29, 1955 at the First Christian Church in Laurens, Iowa. After getting married, Jane and Jay lived in Denver, Colorado where Jane was an office nurse for a surgeon for the next 2 years. She was later a nurse for an obstetrician who delivered their sons, Charles Eugene in 1957 and Bret Jay in 1959. Jay worked for the Continental Oil Company who transferred the family to North Platte, Nebraska in 1960 where Jane was a housewife and mother to her two young sons. In 1962 the family was transferred to Sedalia, Missouri where they remained. Jane was a registered nurse at Heber Hunt Elementary School, and then in 1968 she became a pediatric nurse for Dr. Robert Edmonds. In 1975 Jane began teaching nurse’s aide classes for the State Fair Community College. While teaching there, she was also a temporary office nurse for Dr. Jerry Block in 1977. Her teaching assignment at the college was expanded in 1979 as she began teaching medication technician classes.

Through the years, Jane enjoyed playing couples Bridge, was a member of a ladies Bridge Club, and taught Bridge classes. She enjoyed listening to the music of the big band era, musicals, piano music and movie soundtracks. One of her hobbies was sewing, and smocking dresses for her granddaughters. Jane loved decorating her home for the various holidays and celebrating with family meals and presents. Her homemade popcorn birthday cakes were a favorite with the grandchildren. Jane was proud of her Iowa roots. She was a gardener at heart, planting flowers, and vegetable gardens, even canning or freezing vegetables to have during the winter. She was a friend to Missouri birds with many birdhouses and bird feeders in her back yard. She was a devoted dog lover and provided a home for many poodles through the years. Jane was a member of the First Christian Church of Sedalia, Missouri, where she attended with her family.

Visitation will be at the Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia, Missouri on Friday, July 13 at 9:00 AM, followed by a celebration of life at 10:00 AM. Private burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Jane, to the State Fair Community College Foundation for the Appleton Scholarship Fund, which will be used for nursing or business scholarships.