Jane Keel Sapone

Jane was born in 1930 on her parents' farm in Russell County, Kansas. Her father was Fred E. Lipprand and her mother's maiden name was Lydia Mai. Jane was raised on the farm, along with her three sisters Dolores, Karen and Sylvia and two brothers Donald and Kenneth Lipprand. Jane is a graduate of Russell High School in Russell, Kansas.

Jane married her first husband, Norman Keel, in 1948. They settled in Guymon, Oklahoma in 1953, where they raised their two children, Cheryl and Jeffery. Jane's daughter Cheryl now lives in Florida and her son Jeffry Keel, a U. S. Marine is deceased. There are no grandchildren.

Jane lived a busy and interesting life. She worked in the Domestic Arts Division of the Panhandle Exhibition for 15 years and exhibited her needle arts for over 40 years while winning championship awards. She also won awards at the Five States Free Fair in Liberal, Kansas. Over time, Jane has won nearly 300 ribbons for her handwork, with the majority being blue ribbons for her exceptional crochet.

Jane was an election precinct worker in all positions and worked in her local precinct for nearly 20 years. She was also a member of Guymon Homemakers Group of Texas County Extension Homemakers for 20 years. She served on various committee chairs, and as officer of her local group and served at county level as well. Jane is a past president of Texas County Extension Homemakers. She was nominated Homemaker of the year for both Guymon Homemakers Extension Group and for Texas County Extension Homemakers in 1989, while serving in both organizations.

Jane was honored over the years by three news articles in the Guymon Daily Herald, one about her ability to produce blue ribbon crochet work, another featured her collection of WWII ration tokens and ration forms, and the final one was about her support of their local fair.

While in Extension Homemakers, Jane had a feature article published in the Guymon Daily Herald that won first place in E. H. competition in Texas County and later first place in the state of Oklahoma.

Jane was also active in Christian Women's Fellowship for quite a number of years, filling various offices at group and fellowship levels. She served as president of CWF at the same time she was president of Texas County Extension Homemakers.

Jane was a charter member of the Society of Ration Token Collectors and one of the founding officers as well. She received their highest honor, the Roy W. Gates Memorial Award in 1969 along with certificates of appreciation for both donations and outstanding service in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981. She also received the President's Merit of Award ribbon for displaying her ration token collection at her Extension Homemaker's Group meeting in 1981. She also collected thimbles and was a member of TCI.

Jane was an avid ration token collector and researcher who was always interested in knowing more about the tokens. Nick joined the society in 1998 and was introduced to Jane due to their mutual interest in ration token research and they corresponded for nearly nine years while discovering new information. It was during this time that nick lost his wife Myrna and Jane lost her husband Norman. Two years later, Nick met Jane in person for the first time and six months afterward they were married at Jane's church in Guymon, Oklahoma, where she had recently become a deacon. Jane kept her church membership there to the very end, even after moving to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Jane came to her new home in Wanchese with Nick. She liked the beach where she could find seashells and sea glass, which began new collections. Jane was raised as a hard-working farm girl, who was familiar with the wide plains of Kansas, and she enjoyed the view of the broad marshland that stretches westward beyond her new home where she and Nick lived happily for almost 19 years. Jane said that these last have been interesting and rewarding years, ones that she wouldn't have missed for anything. Jane will be interred in her family plot in Guymon, Oklahoma and will be missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at Bethany Church of Wanchese on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:00 am with Pastor Kenny Midgett officiating.

Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.