July 16, 1938 – March 10, 2024
Jane Vester Allen, age 85, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 10, 2024, surrounded by her beloved family. She was born July 16, 1938 to the late Alice Henrietta Peters and Kermit Adair Vester in Pocahontas, AR.
Jane grew up in the quiet town of Pocahontas, AR where she attended Saint Paul High School, graduating as salutatorian. She enjoyed spending time outdoors with her siblings and friends. In 1956, she moved to Memphis, TN to attend Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing and Memphis State University to earn her Registered Nurse license, Bachelor of Science in Health Education, and Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. These years of learning allowed her to spend the rest of her life caring for people – her most impressive quality. Jane became a passionate nurse and spent many years caring for the patients of Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis as a Director of Nurses, inspiring adolescents undergoing rehabilitation, teaching the students of Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, and promoting patient dignity through Home-Health, Case Management, and Long-Term Care.
Jane was passionate about the people she loved. She enjoyed spending time with her dear friends and was the Queen Mother of two local Red Hat groups. Jane and her late husband, John Archer, were very active members of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. They enjoyed attending any events the church offered and were once leaders of the “Good Friends” social group. Jane was a friend to everyone she met, but most of all, she adored her family. She was so proud of her daughters and grandchildren, and her greatest joys came when all of her family were gathered together.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, loving husbands Bill Allen and John Archer, sister Mary Henrietta Vester Edwards (George), and granddaughter Kathryn Alise Gray.
She is survived by her brother Stephen D. Vester of Mountain Home, AR; her loving daughters, Lesley O. Taylor (Matt) of Murfreesboro, TN, Stephanie O. Gray of Oakland, TN; grandchildren Madison T. Westbrook (Brandon) and Joseph Reece Taylor, both of Murfreesboro, TN, and Mei Mei Shan Nicole Gray of Oakland, TN; great granddaughter Charlotte “Charlee” Marie Westbrook; nieces Julie Edwards (Tracy) of Nashville, TN, Carol Reynolds of Batesville, AR, and Stacey Floyd of Las Vegas, NV; nephew William Vester (Amanda) of Springfield, MO; and many other great nieces and nephews.
Jane was loved by so many and will be dearly missed. We rejoice in knowing she is where she always longed to be. Her family would like to thank her friends and family for their love, prayers, and support.
A gathering of family and friends for Jane will be held Friday, March 15, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8151 Chimneyrock Blvd., Memphis, TN 38016, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at 2 PM in St.Paul Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas
