Jane Allison

(Mary) Jane Allison, a long time resident of Austin, died October 7, 2003. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi April 19, 1935, to Cecil and Louise Allison, she moved to Austin with her parents in 1945. Jane was born with Cerebral Palsy and confined to a wheelchair for life, though it never slowed her down. She attended St. Mary’s Academy and Southwest Texas State and graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in Sociology. After graduation in 1957, she went on to study art under Malcolm Thurgood. When her art began to sell she started teaching both private art lessons and professional portrait painting for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department at their Hancock and other locations. She was the first disabled artist ever hired for this position. She spent her summers working with disabled children at Easter Seal camps around the United States. Additionally, Jane was very active in the development of the disability rights movement locally as well as nationally and a life member of MIGHT. She was a recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service from the President’s Committee on the Employment of the Physically Handicapped, Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW and the USO. She was a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church where she served on the Vestry and had been active in the Stephen Ministries. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4301 Interregional, Austin, Texas 78722. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church or the Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Austin. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 – (512) 452-8811 You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com