Jane Calhoun

Jane Adams Shearer Calhoun (80), loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, friend and longtime educator passed away on October 3, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Jane will be remembered as a loving, devoted, caring and woman full of wit who undoubtedly loved her husband of 48 years, Stayton “Pete” Calhoun. Having no children of her own, Jane was a chosen godmother to several who she commonly referred to as “her children”. Her “children” had mutual admiration for her. Jane was the first daughter of five children to the late Angus T. and Annabelle Kramer Shearer born on Nov. 15, 1938 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended public school in Tulsa and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa. Later, she graduated with a Masters in Theology from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin where she was one of the first two women admitted to this seminary. During seminary, she spent a semester as a chaplain at a women’s prison in southern California. A devoted educator, Jane spent nearly 40 years pouring her heart and soul to teaching children of all ages and backgrounds to whom she left an everlasting impact. In her early years, she taught at schools in Sand Springs and Guthrie, OK, and Wichita, KS. Following seminary, she taught 10 years at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, where she also served as the house mother at the girls’ dormitory for some of that time. In 1980, she began her teaching tenure at AISD as a special education teacher at Johnston High School and later O’Henry Middle School until her retirement in 2002. Upon retirement from teaching, Jane continued to impact children as a private tutor. She also found joy as a regular volunteer at St. David’s Episcopal Church retail mission store, Next to New. Her consistent dedication and unwavering attitude landed her a paid position as the volunteer coordinator, which she held for several years. In addition to her parents, Jane is preceded in death by her older brother, Andy Shearer, sister, Molly Bragg Lackey, sister-in-law, Sandra Calhoun Davis and nephew, David Lackey. She is survived by her brother, Frank (Ruth) Shearer of Dammeron Valley, UT; sister, Maryann Shearer Calle of Medellin, Colombia; sister-in-law, Marilyn Shearer of Salt Lake City, UT; brother-in-law, Danny Lackey of Tulsa, OK; brother-in-law, Micky (Orfa) Davis of Austin, Texas; nephews Michael, Dave and Steven Shearer and Wesley Lackey; nieces Lizzy Studer, Melissa Betke, Rebecca Kreillaus and Jennifer Caine; as well as numerous gran nieces and nephews, cousins, godchildren and dear friends. A service honoring Jane’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2019, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 301 E 8th St., Austin, TX 78701. Honorary pallbearers are: Chris Geck, Christopher Whitehurst, Darren Wicker, Dean Studer, Todd Bredbenner, Todd Kurio and Travis Whitehurst. Pete acknowledges the generous skilled nursing staff at Brookdale Spicewood Springs for their tremendous care of Jane while she lived there. He also acknowledges the love and support from several godchildren, Amy Kurio, Darren Wicker and Sarah Tomlinson, during Jane’s final weeks and after her passing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. David’s Episcopal Church, The Next to New Consignment Shop or KLRU-TV Austin local PBS station.