Jane Ellen Battles
Jane Ellen (nee Butterfield) Battles, educator and devoted volunteer, passed away peacefully Dec. 2, 2023, at the age of 78.
She is survived by her daughter, Amy (David Payne); son, Alexander (Alexis); and sister Anne Steven (David).
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Ramon; parents, George and Hazel Butterfield; brother, George Butterfield; and sister Mary Waller (George).
Jane was born in Cleveland, in 1945, and graduated from Warrensville High School.
After earning a B.A. from Alma College, she taught English at Cardinal High School. It was through students at Cardinal that she met her beloved husband, Ramon. Together, Jane and Ramon ran Tower-N-Pines farm in Chester Township, growing and selling Christmas Trees, sweet corn and lavender.
Jane was an ardent advocate for education. After taking time to raise her children, Jane returned to Cardinal before earning her master’s degree in education from Lake Erie College and holding administrative positions with the Geauga County Board of Education, West Geauga Schools and Mentor Schools.
She fostered learning well into her retirement through teaching short courses and seminars, and as an education consultant for the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.
Jane was always happy to lend her talents to organizations that were important to her. Beginning with being a Brownie leader for her daughter’s troop, over the years Jane held leadership roles in many organizations, including Mother Advisor for Rainbow Girls, and board member of both Friends of West Geauga Library and Chesterland Historical Society.
She was the first female Senior Warden for St. Christopher by-the-River Church and an active member of Cleveland Children’s Guild.
Jane was extraordinarily creative and multi-talented. She was an avid knitter and quilter, a prolific poet and a self-taught pianist.
She won awards for flower arranging and mixed media, and her writing was published in Farm Wife News, Farm Journal and Jekyll Island Journal.
Jane loved to garden and cook, and was particularly interested in growing and cooking with herbs, especially culinary lavender. Friends will miss gathering with Jane to enjoy her quiche and potato soup, as will the farm workers miss her hot ham & cheese sandwiches.
A memorial service for Jane will be held Jan. 3, 2024, at 11 a.m., at St. Christopher by-the-River Church, 7601 Old Mill Road, Gates Mills.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Cleveland Orchestra or the Holden Arboretum.
