Jane C. Harper, of Elizabeth,
formerly of Aurora, died Thursday, September 17, 2009.
Jane Campbell Chamberlain was
born December 18, 1925 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, daughter of George
V. and Edith (Christie) Chamberlain.
A graduate of Albert Lea High
School, 1943, she enrolled at the University of Colorado for her
freshman year but finished college in 1947 at the University of
Minnesota with majors in journalism and political science. She
began her career in journalism on the Albert Lea Tribune while in
high school. She also did special writing for the Tribune , the
Community Magazine and at radio station KATE in 1955-1956.
After moving to Colorado she
worked for the daily Walsenburg World-Independent , the Gunnison
News-Champion and Empire-Courier , and the Aurora Star . In 1960
she became editor of the Colorado Republican Party's weekly
Colorado Trumpet for 12 years, winning numerous press awards. She
also assisted several state legislators, both Republican and
Democrat, with weekly columns and stories for their local
newspapers.
While president of Colorado Press
Women in 1960 she worked with then Colorado Press Association
manager Bill Long on journalism education issues. She joined the
staff of the Colorado Press Association in 1978 where she produced
six bi-enniel legislative directories and worked in all departments
before becoming assistant to the manager. In 1988 she began
compiling a history of Colorado newspapers. The Colorado Press
Association membership elected her to honorary life membership in
1992.
Over the years she belonged to a
variety of professional and political organizations, among them
Theta Sigma Phi, (journalism honorary) Colorado Press Women,
National Federation of Press Women, Republican Women's Club,
Business and Professional Women, the New England Historical and
Genealogical Society, Connecticut Genealogy Society, Colorado
Genealogical Society, Flagon and Trencher, Society of Mayflower
Descendents and the Colorado Historical Society. She taught college
journalism briefly at Adams State College.
She has been listed in Who's Who
of American Women and Who's Who in Colorado. In 1972 she was a
Colorado Presidential Elector.
She is survived by her husband,
Ralph J. Harper; two daughters, Jennifer Rowe of Aurora and Megan
Harper-Ramsey (Kurt) of Elizabeth, a grandson, Leland; three
granddaughters, Sarah; Julie and Laura; two great granddaughters,
Parris and Rachel. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael
Douglas Hoye (Tana) of Westminster.
No service is scheduled. Jane
will be placed to rest next to her father in Minnesota. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be sent to: Alzheimer's Association of
Colorado, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203,
303.813.1669
