Jane Hurley, age 89, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 30, 2026, surrounded by family. She was a beloved wife, mother, and friend, known for her positive outlook on life. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Jane was born on September 30, 1936, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Hilliard and Marjorie Atkinson. Jane cherished her childhood, which was filled with the warmth of both her immediate and extended family. Family gatherings were always treasured occasions, and the bonds she formed during those years left a lasting impression on her life. Jane's parents were, by every measure, exceptional. Warm, loving, fair, and endlessly supportive, they took a genuine interest in their children's pursuits and fostered an environment where no topic was off limits. Jane always felt free to bring anything to them, whether matters of the mind or of the heart. Their unwavering positive outlook on life shaped the way Jane came to see the world, a gift she held in the highest regard.

Jane earned a degree from Northwestern University in primary education, and taught first grade for ten years at Central Elementary in Wilmette, Illinois. She was especially devoted to reading instruction and helping children with reading difficulties. As a result, she was awarded a fellowship to the University of Chicago. Had Jane not found her future husband when she did, she would have parlayed her classroom experience into a career as a pediatrician.

On August 19, 1967, Jane married Samuel Clay Hurley III at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They started their life together in Chicago, and then relocated to Lancaster, Ohio, to build a life with their sons Samuel (Chip) and Bruce. Their fifty-eight-year marriage was rooted in Lancaster and summers in Onekama, Michigan where Jane had some of her dearest friends.

As a wife, mother, and friend, Jane was an excellent listener and always positive and supportive. In her words, "It is important to find ways to lift people up, not tear them down. So, if you don't have something positive to say, keep it to yourself." As a testament to this commitment, her husband and children can never remember a time when she did not put their needs above her own.

Alongside her devotion as a mother and her gift for friendship, Jane was a deeply creative soul. Her love of beauty expressed itself in many forms. She arranged flowers and plants with a natural elegance, had a keen eye for aesthetics in both decorating and fashion, and was accomplished across many art forms, including, photography, needlepoint, sketching, and watercolor painting.

Those closest to her will also remember her love for her goldens, travel, golfing, and ice cream. Her goldens were her surrogate children and grandchildren, travel fed her love of art, culture, and people, golfing enabled her to commune with nature and her close friends, and sundaes made any meal worthwhile.

Jane is survived by her husband Samuel Clay Hurley III, their children Samuel Clay Hurley IV and Bruce Hilliard Hurley, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Hilliard Carroll Atkinson and Marjorie Seeber Atkinson, brother Drake Hilliard Atkinson, and niece Sarah (Atkinson) Kominek.

Services will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Ohio at 1:00PM on Saturday, June 6th, and a Celebration of Life will take place at St. John's by-the-Lake in Onekama, Michigan on July 24th (details will be available on www.thellerfuneralservice.com). Receptions will follow each event. In preparation for these events, please send your favorite memory of Jane in written form and include available pictures, videos, and audio files to janeatkinsonhurley@gmail.com by Monday, 5/18/2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that those wishing to honor Jane's memory consider planting a flower to bloom in their home garden, or making a donation in memory of Jane to the Jean M. Burdette Memorial Scholarship at the Fairfield County Foundation, which is for Lancaster High School graduates pursuing a degree in the field of Special Education. Donations can be mailed to The Fairfield County Foundation, 162 East Main Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130 or made electronically online. https://fairfieldcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1073