Jane died peacefully on Saturday, August 7 at the age of 89 from cancer. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois to Harry Victor and Hazel Grace Bernhardt. She graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School and worked for Marshall Fields Company as a model and assistant buyer.
She married James (Jay) W. Fields in December 28, 1946. They moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana while Jay finished at LSU, moving to Texas in 1949. She and Jay lived in Texas most of their married life before moving to Salem and Black Butte Ranch in 1998. Forty-one of those years in Texas were spent in McAllen where Jane was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. At St. John’s, she served as President of the Women’s Board, Directress of the Altar Guild and was a member of St. Fiacre’s Guild. She was a life member of McAllen International Museum and the McAllen Medical Center Auxiliary. After moving to Oregon, she became a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Black Butte Women’s Association. Along with being an avid reader and supporter of the Salem Public Library, Jane knitted caps for the babies at Doernbecher Children‘s Hospital. Jane was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Jane is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jay, her daughter, Mary Grace West, son-in-law, David, and three grandsons, Colin, Evan and Brian. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Jay Fields. A private family memorial will be held in mountains of central Oregon. Memorial remembrances may be made to the Salem Public Library Foundation, P.O.Box 14810, Salem Oregon 97309. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service