Jane Lewellen Obituary (1945 - 2020)

Jane Moyer Newhard Lewellen returned to her heavenly home Tuesday evening, October 27, 2020. She was surrounded by family on both sides of the veil and transitioned very peacefully. Jane was born on February 22, 1945, in Gary, Indiana. She grew up in Griffith, Indiana with parents that she adored, and four siblings who were her best friends and partners in crime. In 1966 she married Michael Lewellen, and together they brought four children into this world. She earned a bachelor's and two master’s degrees in Special Education and Special Education Administration. She lived most of her life in Indiana and Illinois, a few years in Georgia and Florida, and the last few years in Utah. Jane had a lot of spunk. She challenged norms, loved a joke with some good shock value, had crazy energy, an unshakeable faith, and a beautiful alto voice. She spent her life advocating for her own children, and thousands of special needs children that she considered her own. She championed programs that would help the differently abled, the Special Olympics, equal education and least restrictive environments for "heaven's very special kids." Even after her brain tumors, on her worst days, if you started talking about people with special needs, she perked right up and talked like she was defending one of her two master’s theses’. She is preceded in death by her son Peter, the father of her children, Michael, her parents Doris and Dale, her brother Michael, and her niece Christine. She left behind a daughter, Tanya (Michael); her sons Matthew (Jennifer) and Phillip (Elizabeth), eight grandchildren; Collin (Brianna), Maryn, Timothy, Ian, Alexandria, Lauryn and Gwendolyn, and a beautiful great-granddaughter, Eleanor. She is also survived by her big brother, James (Amy), her little sisters Sally (Lee) and Susan, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and so many friends that she loved so much and considered family. She had a heart big enough for all of us, and we were blessed to have a place in it. Due to current health concerns immediate family will lay her to rest, and hope that next summer we will be able to get together to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Special Olympics in her honor. The family would like to thank Our House Assisted living of Tooele, and Atlas Homecare and Hospice, as well as Cottage Glenn Assisted Living and Rocky Mountain Homecare and Hospice who have loved and cared for her this last year and kept her company during the Covid-19 crisis. We are grateful to Mountain West Medical Center where she has received great care over the last few years, and the people at Tate Mortuary, who have treated her, and her family, with respect and dignity.