Jane Walker

Jane Walker, 80, of Chattanooga, left this world on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, following a mercifully-brief illness. She passed peacefully, taking her last breath in the middle of her daughters recitation of The Lords Prayer. A native of Etowah, Tenn., Jane graduated from the Etowah High School in 1951, and earning her degree from Tennessee Wesleyan College in June, 1953. She and Clarence E. Walker married Feb. 11, 1953, shortly before Clarence was deployed to Berlin, Germany for two years with the United States Army. Following his return, and in a reversal of roles for the 1950s and 60s, Jane worked to support the family while her husband took advantage of the G.I. Bill to complete his college education, attending the University of Tennessee College of Law. During this time, she was employed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. After her kids were grown, she became secretary of her husbands law practice. She would slyly admit, and he would agree, that she made him everything he became. Upon completion of law school, the Walker couple made Chattanooga their home, where they would raise their four children. Jane devoted this portion of her life to taking care of her family. She became their most devoted cheerleader. She never missed a swim meet, a ball game, choral or drama performance, or teacher meeting. God certainly shed His grace on Jane with a life filled with laughs, adventure, tears, and down-right fun. The laughs, adventure, and fun were provided by her family, who showered her adult years with more enjoyment than she ever could have imagined. Like any parent, the tears, of both joy and sadness, came from the same source. If asked just before her passing, shed agree to experience it all again. She was fiercely independent. She loved to travel. After the passing of her husband, she traveled all over the United States with her children, grandchildren and friends. Throughout her life she enjoyed games. She frequently played such games as Rook, Hearts and Backgammon with her family and friends. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence E. Walker; her beloved son, William W. Walker; and her parents Noah Horace and Elizabeth Duggan Burnett. She leaves behind, with great stories and memories; daughters, Linda Walker of Chattanooga, Carol (Greg) Carter of Harrison, and Joy Nease of Chattanooga; grandson, Steven Nease, of Parrottsville, Tenn.; sisters, Elizabeth Mayfield, of Middle Valley, Sue Derrick (Joe), of Etowah; brothers, Dean Burnette (Barbara), of East Ridge, and Dan Burnette (Margaret), of Chattanooga; daughter-in-law, Lynn Petras; special grandchildren, Larissa Gould, Brynnen Carter, Dylan Carter, Kelsey Carter, all of Chattanooga; and many nieces, nephews and close friends. She was lifelong member of Oakwood Baptist Church in Chattanooga. The family will receive friends today, Feb. 10, 2014 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East. Services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the Oakwood Baptist Church on Bonny Oaks Drive in Chattanooga with the Rev. Ken Clark officiating. Interment will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home East on South Moore Road.