Jane Crawford Tallman

Jane was born to Frances Tanner and Glenn Thompson on a sheep ranch near the U.S.-Canadian border. Her brother, Gale Weatherell, was born three years later. Like many of Jane’s relatives, the family moved to Alaska in the mid-1930s where the steady price of gold provided shelter from the Great Depression.

Jane’s parents divorced in Alaska, and at age 6, she was adopted by James and Alta Crawford, her maternal aunt. Jane remained in affectionate contact with her brother Gale throughout her life, and was motherly to her 12 years younger sister, Sarah Crawford Isto.

Jane was mostly raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, although when the gold mines closed during World War II the family spent two years in Salt Lake City where her grade school had two hours a week for free choice study. There Jane got her first serious art lessons. She graduated from Fairbanks High School and attended the University of Alaska and the University of Oregon at Eugene. She left Oregon before completing her senior year to marry Sidney Tallman. They moved to a farm in New York state, where their children Christine Tallman Brooks and Peter Tallman were born.

In 1970 the family moved to Florida. Jane and Sidney divorced, and Jane completed her education with BA and MA degrees in Art History and Teaching at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Subsequently she supported herself with painting, ceramics, and teaching art. She was a devoted member of Tallahassee’s First Church of Christ, Scientist.

She is survived by her son, Peter Tallman of Concho, Arizona; her daughter, Christine Brooks of Miami, Florida, her brother, Gale Weatherell of Anchorage, Alaska, her sister, Sarah Isto of Juneau, Alaska; 3 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Donations in remembrance of Jane may be sent to Artists Helping Artists (AHA of the Big Bend)

Mailing Address: AHA

c/o Havana Main Street

P.O. Box 346

Havana, FL 32333

Family, friends and loved ones are encouraged to leave a message of condolence or share your fondest memory of Jane.