Jane Whitfield

After a long journey with Alzheimer’s Disease, Jane Whitfield died peacefully with her daughters by her side.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah; step-daughters, Kyle, Kristin and Katherine; brothers-in-law, Todd, Andrew and Richard; grandchildren and step grandchildren, Joseph, Toby, Elise, Owen, Levi, Harriet, Kara, Alex, Lauren, Ryan, and Karen. She was preceded in death by parents, Harold and Pauline Whitfield; step-daughters, Karen and Kimberly; grandson, Jared; and dear friend and sister, Margy Bolds.

Jane lived a full and meaningful life. She was born and raised in Vancouver Washington, the only child of Harold and Pauline Whitfield. She was adored by her many maternal aunts and was especially close to aunts Maude and Florence. She graduated from Stanford University and while working for the college board she met and married Benjamin McKendall. They had two daughters together and Jane also joyfully welcomed five step daughters into her life. Jane lived and worked in Los Altos, California while raising her children. She was a master gardener and talented professional landscape artist. She started a successful landscaping business with her friend and business partner, Roz Creasy. After almost twenty years in California, she moved back to her Vancouver, Washington home and built her dream house by the Columbia River. She had many adventures in Vancouver including owning her own bakery, Creative Cakery, and serving in numerous roles in her beloved church community, Church of the Good Shepherd. Jane spent much of her life in service to others with countless volunteer efforts including starting Plant A Row For the Hungry at Good Shepard and numerous anonymous and quiet acts of service and philanthropy later discovered by her children. She opened her home to many and often took in stray pets and stray people.

She met and married her current husband, John Campbell, and spent the final years of her life with him, both in Vancouver and St. Paul, Minnesota near family for her final years.

Jane will be remembered for her love of people, gardening and giving. She had a special love and passion for her family cabin at Wauna Lake where she spent every summer of her life. She raised her children and grandchildren at Wauna Lake instilling in them a love for nature, the water and the outdoors. Jane will forever be remembered swimming her beautiful strokes for hours in the waters of Wauna Lake.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in Jane’s honor. https://www.alz.org/