Lois Jane Jestes was born on June 22, 1935, to Oliver and Francis Baker. She grew up on a farm near Haven Kansas, where she enjoyed horseback riding. When in high school she contracted polio but eventually regained her health, although afterwards her legs fatigued easily. She graduated from Haven High School in 1953 and moved to Hutchinson, Kansas to work as a dental hygienist and eventually a receptionist for an insurance company.
She was featured in a full-page article on the modern working girl in the Hutchison News-Herald on April 1 of 1954. That same year the newspaper published an article noting that the 19-year-old, Jane Baker was crowned as the HNAS Centennial Air Show Queen. On April 27, 1956, Jane married her longtime beau, Gary Lee Edwards, in a church filled with lilacs. Jane was proud of her Welsh heritage and she and Gary visited her ancestral homeland on the Isle of Anglesey in 1965.
Jane enjoyed raising her four children, growing roses, cooking, and every year she returned to the farm to help with the wheat harvest. Jane loved to sing and was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s singing group. She relished her role as a mother and could be heard for miles cheering at the sporting events of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jane was an ardent advocate for her children and learned sign language in 1967 to better communicate with her youngest daughter. Jane and Gary parted in 1975. She married Jim Jestes in 1991, and they moved to Texas for a time. Jane passed away peacefully on November 28 Thanksgiving day, 2024.
She is survived by her siblings; Bill Baker of Lindsborg, KS, and Dee Ann Holeman of Dallas, TX, her children; Lisa Kellerby of Wichita, KS, Mike Edwards of Branson, MO, Ange Hilsendeger of Bozeman, MT, Judy Winter of Hutchinson, KS, Jeana Carrasco of Davison MI, Jami Jestes of Ashland, KY and Karen Barnes of Wichita, KS, 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Funeral will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave, Hutchinson, Kansas. Burial will take place in Burrton Cemetery, Burrton, KS. Memorial contributions are suggested to Hope In The Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.