Jane "Janie" Ellen Vowell

Jane “Janie” Ellen Vowell, age 86, formerly of Lantana, FL, passed away on Monday, October 26, 2026, at Alamar Assisted Living in Wellington, FL. Jane was born in Martin, Tennessee, to the late Thomas A. and Verna Glasgow Vowell. She grew up in Martin, where her mother was a teacher and her father was assistant postmaster with the U.S. Postal Service. She was preceded in death by her brother Thomas G. Vowell.

After graduating from Martin High School, she attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, earning a BS in education and biology in 1961. She later earned her master’s degree in administration and supervision from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. Janie came to Palm Beach County in 1963 as a science teacher. Her career in the School District of Palm Beach County progressed from teacher to assistant principal to principal to assistant superintendent. Her proudest career accomplishment was opening Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Boynton Beach. She truly valued the teachers and staff she worked with and spoke of them with great respect and gratitude.

As her friends and colleagues know, an obituary cannot capture Janie’s unique spirit. Known to her friends as Janie, she shared that spirit generously with friends, colleagues and students. Fun-loving and quick-witted with a keen sense of humor, she took great pleasure in making friends and colleagues laugh. Always curious, she loved travel and learning and was a lifelong student of history. She also enjoyed fishing and took up golf in her retirement. She did not suffer fools and freely shared her political and other opinions. Janie especially loved spending time with friends and family in Key West.

She is survived by her sister-in-law Patty Green Vowell, niece Tracey Vowell of Kankakee, IL, numerous friends, former colleagues, relatives, and dear friends Martha Hamblin, Connie Higgins, and Lindy May. Special thanks to Julia Knoess of Elder Resources Unlimited for her invaluable care and support, and to the staff of Alamar Assisted Living for their care.

If desired, memorial contributions may be given to Lake Worth Dollars for Scholars by contacting Lady Hereford at [email protected], the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (bcrf.org), or the charity of your choice.

A casual celebration of Janie’s life with light refreshments will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Dorsey – E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461.