Jane Roberta Barcalow Stevenson died November 14, 2013 in Sequim, Wash., surrounded by her family after a nine year battle with ovarian cancer. She fought for her life with dignity, courage and amazing determination. She touched and inspired many lives along the way.

Jane was born on March 19, 1948 to Harold and Adelaide Barcalow in Saginaw, Mich. She attended Saginaw public schools and graduated from Saginaw High School in 1966.
She attended Adrian College from 1966 to 1970, graduating with a degree in elementary education in 1970, and a minor in music education. She later completed an advanced music education certification from the University of Georgia. She taught elementary school in Birch Run, Mich., Steuben, Maine, Agana, Guam, and Clarkston, Mich.

While living in Richmond upon Thames, England, she became certified to teach English as a second language, and taught students in Richmond upon Thames, Atlanta, Ga., Brussels, Belgium, and Sequim, Wash.

She learned to speak German in Germany, French in Brussels, studied Finnish as an exchange student in Finland during one treasured summer in high school, and traveled widely in Europe and the United States.

She was an accomplished musician, learning to play the piano and the violin at an early age, but found that playing the organ was her greatest gift, and lifelong passion. She was a passionate lover and composer of hymns, including "Pray for the Children." She played the organ at churches in Saginaw, Mich., Adrian, Mich., Birch Harbor, Maine, Boothbay Harbor, Agana, Guam, Weybridge, England, Lilburn, Ga., Brussels, Belgium, Decatur, Ga., and Sequim, Wash.

Jane sang with choirs everywhere she lived, and was the choir director at churches in Weybridge, England, and Sequim, Wash., where she also directed a handbell choir. She also started and directed the Glee Club at the Sequim Senior Center.

She cherished the 25 precious summers she got to spend with her family, grandchildren, friends and neighbors on Cedar Lane on Juniper Point, and all around Boothbay Harbor.

She was short in stature, but cast an enormous shadow wherever she lived, bringing infectious joy, love, laughter, optimism, and music to all those around her. It was a hallmark of her character that she never left anyone out in her thoughts and deeds. She was ever inclusive.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Lawrence Wayne Stevenson; her son, Dr. David James Stevenson of St. Andrews, Scotland; her daughter, Laura Ostmann of California; her brothers, Ray Barcalow of Southgate, Mich. and Robert Barcalow of Saginaw, Mich.; her cousin, Mary Jane Barcalow Holat of Elgin, Ill.; her beloved daughter-in-law, Alison Stevenson of St. Andrews, Scotland; beloved son-in-law, Daniel Ostmann of California; and adored grandchildren, Mark Lawrence Stevenson, Dylan Alexander Ostmann, Hannah Jane Stevenson, Thomas Edward Stevenson, and most recently, Eleanor Jane Ostmann.

Her ashes were buried with her mother and father in the Barcalow family plot in Fairgrove, Mich., on January 4, 2014.

There will be a celebration of Jane's life at the Congregational Church in Boothbay Harbor on Sunday, August 3, 2014, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her name to the Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church.