Jane Wray Epley Taylor Hyatt, 86, of Kittery, ME, passed away at Cedar Healthcare in Portsmouth, NH, on July 3, 2024, after a prolonged illness.

Jane was born July 21, 1937, in Washington, D.C., to Thomas L. Epley and Annie E. Wray Epley, into a loving home. Jane's sister, Rebecca Clay Epley Fitzgerald, arrived three years later. Jane's family moved around during WWII, spending time in California, North Carolina, and then back to DC.

Jane graduated from Coolidge High School in Washington in 1955 and enrolled in secretarial school. She started working for Wall Shipping as a secretary and quickly rose to the position of Vice President during the 1960's. One of her proudest moments was when the Washington Post did a story on her as a female VP in business, complete with a photo of her platinum blonde hair, white Go-Go boots, and her hot pink briefcase.

Jane married Bob Taylor in 1956, and they had a daughter, Lisa, in 1962. The family resided in Falls Church and Reston, VA. In 1972, the couple divorced amicably.  Some of the best family vacations included Puerto Rico, where a lifelong friendship started with the artist John St. John. Family trips to Ocean City, MD, always elicited happy memories.

Jane married JDH. The new family moved to Staten Island, NY, then Metuchen, NJ, and eventually to Cold Brook, NY. While in Staten Island, Jane worked for a shipping company in the World Trade Center while it was being built. While living in New Jersey, the couple started the air cargo shipping brokerage firm Hyatt International. This was also when Jane's devotion to the Irish Setter dog breed began. It all started with Misty, the first of many Irish Setters in Jane's life.

Business was booming in New Jersey, and life was good. This allowed the couple to purchase a campground in upstate New York, where they eventually moved in 1977. Jane thrived at Shawnee Mission Farms Campground in Cold Brook. She expanded the farm's outbuildings, renovated and added to the house, grew the campground and air charter businesses, planted an orchard, raised chickens, pigs, cows, horses, grew veggies and learned how to can them, and collected her rescued Irish Setters. She also managed their antique store and several rental properties in the area. Husband #2 visited every couple of weeks, but Jane was the motivating force that kept everything running. They divorced in the early 1980's.

Jane started her undergraduate degree at Utica College as she entered her fifties. She continued with a Master's in Family Therapy at Syracuse University. After selling the farm, she moved to Lakeland, Florida, to be near her dearest friend, Nikki Collier, and practice her new vocation. While at Syracuse, Jane found a passion for writing. She had many poems and short stories published in Florida newspapers and was working on a book about Irish Setters. Unfortunately, that book was never finished, but plans are underway to bring it to life as a children's series in the future.

In the new millennium, Jane moved to Kittery, ME, to be closer to family. Jane continued the work she loved and volunteered for P-Flagg, worked for the US Census, and Measured Progress. Locally, she is remembered for her volunteer work as the cranky old lady at the Kittery Freebie Barn.

Grandparents Day at Berwick Academy was "Granny's" Superbowl! She could be found cheering at hockey and lacrosse games. Jane enjoyed her deep dive into the family genealogy and left an intensive family tree going back 14 generations. "Granny" was looking forward to the birth of her first great-granddaughter in December 2024.

Jane was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Elizabeth, sister Becky, brother-in-law John Fitzgerald, Bob Taylor, and her beloved Irish Setters, Misty, Clancey, Bibs, Rusty, Barkley, and Paddy.

Jane is survived by daughter Lisa and son-in-law Bob Harris of Eliot, ME; grandson Aaron Harris and his wife, Cathy Mayne of Portland, ME; Niece and nephews Janice Hylton, John Fitzgerald, Maurice Fitzgerald, and Robert Fitzgerald; cousins Jim Wray and Robert Wray; many great nieces and nephews; and grand dog Bogey.

Jane will be interned at Brooks Memorial Park in Eliot, ME, at a private ceremony for the family. In place of flowers, please consider a commemorative gift to the NHSPCA.