Jane Sansregret

May 31, 1918 - Dec. 10, 2011

Jane Raymond Brine Sansregret, 93, died peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 10, in Corvallis.

She was born to Lewis Rowe Brine and Josephine Maxwell Brine on May 31, 1918, in Atlanta, Ga. After the death of Jane's father, the family moved to Champaign, Ill., where she graduated from University High School in 1936. Jane attended the University of Illinois - Urbana, and graduated in 1940 with a degree in floriculture. This was the beginning of a love affair with plants and trees.

In 1944, Jane met Leo Sansregret at a USO mixer. They were married on May 27, 1944, and moved to Medford, where their first child, Katherine, was born.

They moved to Portland for a short time, and then to Seattle, where their son Joseph and their daughter Mary were born. Later, they moved back to Portland, where their daughter Anne was born. Jane and Leo made their home in the Portland/Gresham area for 43 years, during that time being active in both St. Rita's Parish and St. Henry's Parish.

During these years, Jane spent countless hours volunteering for her church and her children's schools. She led many 4-H groups, teaching sewing and cooking to her daughters and their friends.

Jane always had her dreams of writing. She wrote freelance articles for several national magazines and the Oregonian's Northwest section for 15 years. Jane wrote about Portland's hidden botanical treasures, and about little-known vegetables and flowers. Jane's garden was her research laboratory, and her family enjoyed the many new tastes and sights she grew in it. Jane also volunteered many hours as a Master Gardner in Multnomah County with her husband, Leo.

In their retirement years, Jane and Leo enjoyed the company of their friends from the Empty Nesters group at St. Henry's Parish. They also enjoyed spending time with their fellow swimmers from Mt. Hood Community College. They spent time traveling with the Elderhostel program, really enjoying tours of Alaska and St. Louis, Mo.

Continuing her love of writing, Jane wrote a novel, "The Shaman Tree," though never published, about early life among the Tillamook Indians.

In 1999, Jane and Leo moved to Stoneybrook Lodge in Corvallis, a town where they had always wanted to reside. Here, they made many new friends and enjoyed attending local plays, concerts and other community events. They enjoyed being members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Jane's son, Joseph, and her husband, Leo, preceded her in death. Survivors include her daughters Kathy (Neil) Beutler of Salem, Mary (Scott) Hewitt of Loveland, Ohio, and Anne (Bob) Loewen of Corvallis; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Graveside services will take place at 3 p.m. at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Portland.

Remembrances can be made to Dial-A-Bus of Benton County.

McHenry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.