Jane was born in Newton and was a lifelong Lafayette resident. She graduated from High Point Regional High School in 1969 then attended Glassboro State College graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education. She went on to have a 37-year career as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher with the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District, retiring in 2010.
Throughout her teaching career, Jane earned recognition of the Governor’s Teacher Award in 1987, the Lawrence School Teacher of the Year Award in 1996, and the NJ Agricultural Society Education Grant Award in 1997. She was a member of the NEA, NJEA, SCEA, SWEA and SCREA. Jane was also a member of the Sussex-Wantage Education Association where she served in various capacities over the years. She earned the Delta Kappa Gamma/Epsilon Chapter Rose Award in 1999 and was the corresponding secretary for the chapter.
Jane lived a life dedicated to teaching, agriculture and community service. She was a member of the Lafayette Federated Church for many years where she taught Sunday School and held many other positions. She was a member of the 4H Dairy Club for 10 years and a 4H leader of the Cow Kids for 54 years, she was also a leader of the Happy Kitchenettes.
Jane was an employee and active volunteer with the NJ State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. She was a member of the Ag Committee, an Alternate Director for the Open Beef Show and was on the Dairy and Beef Committee. Jane was also a member of the NJ Holstein Association, the Sussex County Ag Society, the Lafayette and Frankford Seniors Club and was awarded Lafayette Senior of the Year in 2015.
Jane was predeceased by her parents, Alva and Evelyn (Dalrymple) Phillips; her brother, Thomas Phillips; and her niece, Ann Phillips. She is survived by her brother, Joe Phillips and wife, Joanne; her nephews, David Phillips and Michael Phillips and wife, Michelle; her great-nieces and great-nephews, Alex Phillips (Carly), Danielle Barto, Jazmyne Barto and Austin Barto; as well as many cousins.
Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 8 pm on Monday, January 27, 2025, at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St, Newton, NJ. Funeral Services will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at the Lafayette Federated Church, 180 NJ-15, Lafayette Township, NJ. Interment will follow in Beemerville Cemetery, Route 519, Wantage, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donation can be made in Jane's memory to the Lafayette Federated Church, www.lfc.org/give/ or to the New Jersey State Fair Department of Agriculture.
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