BORN

1926

DIED

2015

FUNERAL HOME

Hood Mortuary - Durango

1261 East 3rd Avenue

Durango, Colorado

Jane Hemphill Obituary

Visit the Legacy Remembers website to view the full obituary.

Longtime Durango resident, Jane Louis Hemphill, 89, died from complications of Parkinson's disease on October 19, 2015 at Four Corners Health Center. The daughter of Austin and Jessie (Scroggin) Schaffenacker, Jane was born October 1, 1926 and was raised in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois and graduated from Mt. Pulaski Township High School in 1944. She continued her education at Western Illinois University where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1948. On February 14, 1946 she met Robert (Bob) Hemphill at a Valentine's Day dance and they were married January 1, 1947.

The young couple started their teaching careers in La Junta, Colorado, where Jane taught English. In 1950 they returned to Illinois and settled in Newman. Jane continued teaching and raised a family. Never forgetting their love for Colorado, the Hemphills moved to Durango in 1970. Jane taught for several years at Ignacio High School and then helped her husband operate two motels in Durango. They retired from the motel business in 1994 and moved to Arizona first to Casa Grande and then to Green Valley. In 2005 they returned to Durango to be near their daughter.

Jane was an excellent cook and baker and an avid Bridge and Scrabble player. She enjoyed Shakespeare, poetry, and the theater and did a lot of mountain hiking and cross country skiing with her husband. Their extensive travels throughout the US and Europe are chronicled in the many photo albums she loved putting together.

Jane sang in church or community choirs for many years. She was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Reading Club of Durango.

She is survived by her daughter, Phoebe Hemphill of Durango; son, William Hemphill (Billie Ruth) of Cottage Grove, OR; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Bob Hemphill, and her sister, Rhoda Walker.

No services are planned at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences to the family may be posted at hoodmortuary.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Jane Hemphill

Sponsored by Hood Mortuary - Durango.

What is your first memory of Jane?

Share a favorite memory you have of Jane.

Tell us about a special moment you shared with Jane.

Describe a time when Jane made you laugh or smile.

What is something you will always remember about Jane?

Talk about a shared experience you had with Jane.

What is something you did together that you enjoyed?

Describe a place or activity that reminds you of Jane.

Tell us about a personal story or anecdote involving Jane.

What is something you learned from Jane?

Not sure what to say?

2 Entries

November 2, 2015

Paula House

Jane affected everyone's life she touched, and certainly mine. In addition to giving me a best friend, her daughter, she exposed me to many things I would never have know about otherwise. Thank you Jane. The world is better because you were here.

October 30, 2015

What a nice lady, she was my mother in laws room mate at four corners. I know you will miss her dearly. My condolences. Carrie Woodson

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results

Make a Donation
in Jane Hemphill's name

Please consider a donation as requested by the family.

Memorial Events
for Jane Hemphill

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Hood Mortuary - Durango

1261 East 3rd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301

How to support Jane's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Jane Hemphill's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sponsored