Jane Elizabeth Ashley-Fennell

Jan. 10, 1940 – May 1, 2009

On Friday, May 1, 2009, Jane Elizabeth Ashley-Fennell was ready to move on and free her spirit from her ailing body, surrounded by family and friends. In December, Jane was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, which was also resistant to treatment. She never lost hope and moved forward with incredible grace. She was one classy lady.

Jane was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, the daughter of the late Vera Mae Cash and Thomas Estus Ashley. Jane emanated her Cajun roots, especially in her incredible southern cooking and southern charm.

Jane had a passion for raising and showing whippets, a form of sight hound. In the 70’s and 80’s, she owned and operated Exeter Kennels while raising her two children. Whippets have always been in her life and are a huge part of who she was.

Everyone who knew Jane was amazed by her vast energy and talents. Most of her friends and family called her the ”energizer bunny.” As a classically trained painter, her eye was astute for color balance and symmetry. She had an amazing talent and could capture the spirit of whatever object she viewed and transpose it beautifully to canvas.

Jane was an event planner by trade, and owned JAAL Events, Inc. Her business began in Washington State, but she decided to start her life over by moving to Annapolis Maryland, where she pursued environmental/green events, something quite unique at the time. She was a conservationist before the term was coined, always looking for creative ways to use nature as a focal point in all of her events. Some of her clients included the Smithsonian Institute, the Humane Society, and the North American Bonsai Association, to name a few. It was in Maryland, where she met her now husband, Kenneth Paul Fennell.

”Paul” nurtured her love for the outdoors, wildlife, and especially botany. Jane took great joy in creating masterful gardens and designing amazing water features, ponds, and nature-scapes. She had a special fondness for the Oregon Garden, and would retreat there for inspiration. She created masterful gardens on both the east and west coasts. Jane was also a gifted bonsai master and created the most awe-inspiringly beautiful plants. Jane always craved to learn more about plants and was always scouting for the next perfect plant to bonsai.

Jane and Paul decided to move to Bend so she could be closer to her children and grandkids on the west coast. She was particularly determined to come back to the northwest to share with Paul the gorgeous mountains and bounty of sparkling rivers and the Pacific Ocean. In their adventures around Oregon, Jane admired the beauty of old barns and began gravitating toward them as subjects for her art. Several barn pieces were started but unfinished, because of the aggressive nature of her illness.

Jane is survived by her beloved husband, Paul and her children, Erik Scott Schmidt and Ashley Allison Massey, her grandchildren, Madeline Jane and Sophia Sandra Massey, her sister, Nancy Ashley Payne, and her many, many dear friends whose lives she touched so deeply.

A celebration gathering will take place at Nativity Lutheran Church, 60850 Brosterhous Road, in Bend on May 6, 2009, at 1 p.m.

Jane Elizabeth Ashley-Fennell