March 29,1928 - October 24,2020

Jane Ann Rea was born in Mineola, New York, March 29,1928, the first child of Florence and Amel Johnson. She was very close to her younger brother, Robert Johnson who, with his wife Carol, currently resides in Troy, Oregon. Jane passed peacefully on Saturday, October 24,2020.

Jane received her teaching degree and academic accolades from Adelphi University in 1951. She was Student Body President for a year and crowned May Queen her Sr. year.

Jane married James Francis Rea on June 17,1951, spending their honeymoon moving across the country to California. Together they raised 8 children, in California until 1973, and then Northern Idaho until present. Jane worked intermittently as an elementary teacher, and also owned and operated a craft store in Sandpoint, ID for a number of years. She loved crocheting, knitting, needle point and macramé. In addition, she was a volunteer 4 - H leader, teaching food preservation and helping to run the club in which all her children were active. As a lifelong avid gardener, Jane grew amazing florals which she turned into arrangements, winning many awards at the County Fair.

Jane was blessed to have been able to live out her life in the beautiful nature setting of Northern Idaho, even after her husband Jim passed in 1991. Countless hours tending her large garden and bird watching brought her great joy. Bright red cardinals were her favorite which she enjoyed seeing when visiting children on the East Coast. For the many years she was able to travel and stay with family, she of course taught her grandchildren how to plant flowers but also spent many hours playing card and board games. She won virtually every multi-hand solitaire game - she was that fast!

Jane required an increasingly amount of physical assistance over the last 5 years and these were made graceful and easier under the watchful eye and capable hands of her daughter Kathy, son-in-law Ken, son Ron and daughter-in-law Tina. We are all grateful for their dedication and sensitivity to a difficult task. They made it possible for Jane to live in the setting she loved.

Above all, Jane loved her family and stayed connected with everyone through mail correspondence when she couldn't travel anymore. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren exceed 60 in number, and she never missed sending Christmas and Birthday cards. Her gift to everyone was writing out several pages of 'Words to Live by' quotes which was included in every correspondence. We all looked forward to receiving these loving gems, and will miss them in the future. There will be a graveside service at the Evergreen Cemetery in Priest River on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 11 a.m.  Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services in Priest River is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com.