Jeanne Jayne Werner
Jeanne Jayne Werner passed away on May 25, 2024, at Alexian Village on Signal Mountain after a period of declining health.
She was born on July 28, 1931, to Lawrence William "Buddy" Utley and Elizabeth Johns Utley in Nashville, Tn. She graduated from Isaac Litton High School in Nashville and subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at Vanderbilt University. In 1952 Jeanne married John William Jayne of Ashland, Ky., whom she had met at Vanderbilt. They lived in several states before settling in Chattanooga where John taught mathematics at UTC. John died in 1993. In 1999 she married Leslie Dean Werner who predeceased her in 2014.
A school teacher for 30 years, (most of those in the third grade at Ganns Middle Valley Elementary School), Jeanne was elected Elementary Teacher of the Year for Hamilton County in 1994. She was an active member of Rivermont Presbyterian Church for many years, serving as a deacon and participating on mission trips to Haiti and Romania.
In addition to teaching, she devoted considerable effort to volunteer work for organizations such as Bridge Refugee Services, Girl Scouts of America, Contact of Chattanooga, and Chattanooga Memorial Hospital. She was a long-time member of the Circle Eights Square Dance Club. Jeanne loved music, camping and travel: she visited all 50 states and several countries. Her other hobbies included art, photography, and bridge.
Jeanne is also predeceased by her sister Carolyn Utley of Denver and by her special friend, Carlton "Scottie" Scott.
Survivors include two brothers, Bill (Rose Marie) Utley of Lincoln, NE and Kenneth (Lynn) Utley of Madison, MS; loving children, Ellen Jayne (Ray) Seipp of Chattanooga, John (Debra) Jayne of Hanover, NH, Alfred (Annette) Jayne of Hillsboro, VA, Kenneth (Cindy) Jayne of Rising Fawn, GA, and Richard Jayne of San Diego, CA; grandchildren, Liz Siepp, John Seipp, Chris Jayne, Eric Jayne, Ben Garfunkel, Nehemiah Jayne, Yadel Goldovitz, Hermon Jayne, Zak Jayne, Derekah Jayne, John Jayne, Shavarah Wilson, Austin Jayne, Brogan Jayne, Griffin Jayne, and Habte Fentaw; 19 great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews whom she kept up with and supported with much love.
The family would like to give a special thank you to her wonderful caregivers, Crystal, Suzette, and Aundrea.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at the chapel of Alexian Village on Signal Mountain. A private graveside service will be held on Monday, June 3, at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are entrusted to Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services Franklin -Strickland Chapel, 1724 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn, 37404, 423 265-4414.