In Memory Of
Jane Olive Elston
1927
2015
Jane Olive Elston
March 13, 1927 — January 12, 2015
Jane Olive Elston, 87, of Fort Collins, Passed away on January 12, 2015.
Jane Elston was born March 13, 1927 in Niles, Ohio. The daughter of Olive Jeanette (Parsons) and Elmer Kohlmorgan. She grew up on the family farm with her brother Elmer Jr. in Johnston, Ohio. She attended Johnston High School and graduated in 1945.
After graduation, Jane enlisted in the US Air Force and attended radio operators school. She worked in the flight tower at various installations in the US, most notably Lowry Field in Denver, CO. In 1949, she marched in Harry Truman's Presidential Parade in Washington, DC.
After her honorable discharge in 1952, Jane moved back to Warren, Ohio. Where she met her future husband, Dr Harry Elston, Jr. They married in 1953, and later moved to Sharon, PA. Where she raised four children in the Ohio/ Pennsylvania area. She was a longtime volunteer at Shenango Valley Osteopathic Hospital in Sharon, PA.
Jane and Harry divorced in 1975 and Jane moved to Denver, CO. She worked for the Denver Police Department, was an apartment manager, hostess in a restaurant and babysitter for working families. From Denver, Jane moved to Loveland, CO and from there to Estes Park and the YMCA of the Rockies. She was a longtime volunteer at Rocky Mountain National Park where she was on the Elk Bugle Patrol and also safely guided bighorn sheep across the road. After that she semi retired in Loveland, CO.
Jane traveled extensively throughout her life, throughout the United States and numerous countries. I think the only continents she missed were Asia and Africa.
Jane once said, "I was born under a wandering star" and "home is where I park my car". She lived true to that strong, adventurous passion. One summer she was with the ' Trash Trekkers' in Glen Canyon National Park where she lived on a houseboat and picked up trash along the shore. Another summer she was with the Forest Service in California where she volunteered to work in the finance dept and paid the firefighters for their work. She was in the thick of things, sleeping in a lean to, and worked in the fire camp alongside the men.
Jane's greatest adventure was her gold mining expedition to the Trinity River in California. In her 60's, Jane spent three seasons sleeping in a tent along the river where she operated her claim using scuba gear and a dredge. She outlasted many of the men that were also working claims there.
Jane is survived by her 4 children James Timothy Elston, Gary Lee (Hilma) Elston, Michael Lawrence (Judy) Elston, and Susan Jane Elston, and step son, Harry Edward Elston III, She has 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her parents and brother Elmer.
A private family service will take place this summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Mountain National Park
To share a memory of Jane or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Jane Elston was born March 13, 1927 in Niles, Ohio. The daughter of Olive Jeanette (Parsons) and Elmer Kohlmorgan. She grew up on the family farm with her brother Elmer Jr. in Johnston, Ohio. She attended Johnston High School and graduated in 1945.
After graduation, Jane enlisted in the US Air Force and attended radio operators school. She worked in the flight tower at various installations in the US, most notably Lowry Field in Denver, CO. In 1949, she marched in Harry Truman's Presidential Parade in Washington, DC.
After her honorable discharge in 1952, Jane moved back to Warren, Ohio. Where she met her future husband, Dr Harry Elston, Jr. They married in 1953, and later moved to Sharon, PA. Where she raised four children in the Ohio/ Pennsylvania area. She was a longtime volunteer at Shenango Valley Osteopathic Hospital in Sharon, PA.
Jane and Harry divorced in 1975 and Jane moved to Denver, CO. She worked for the Denver Police Department, was an apartment manager, hostess in a restaurant and babysitter for working families. From Denver, Jane moved to Loveland, CO and from there to Estes Park and the YMCA of the Rockies. She was a longtime volunteer at Rocky Mountain National Park where she was on the Elk Bugle Patrol and also safely guided bighorn sheep across the road. After that she semi retired in Loveland, CO.
Jane traveled extensively throughout her life, throughout the United States and numerous countries. I think the only continents she missed were Asia and Africa.
Jane once said, "I was born under a wandering star" and "home is where I park my car". She lived true to that strong, adventurous passion. One summer she was with the ' Trash Trekkers' in Glen Canyon National Park where she lived on a houseboat and picked up trash along the shore. Another summer she was with the Forest Service in California where she volunteered to work in the finance dept and paid the firefighters for their work. She was in the thick of things, sleeping in a lean to, and worked in the fire camp alongside the men.
Jane's greatest adventure was her gold mining expedition to the Trinity River in California. In her 60's, Jane spent three seasons sleeping in a tent along the river where she operated her claim using scuba gear and a dredge. She outlasted many of the men that were also working claims there.
Jane is survived by her 4 children James Timothy Elston, Gary Lee (Hilma) Elston, Michael Lawrence (Judy) Elston, and Susan Jane Elston, and step son, Harry Edward Elston III, She has 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her parents and brother Elmer.
A private family service will take place this summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to Rocky Mountain National Park
To share a memory of Jane or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jane Olive Elston, please visit our flower store.
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