Jane Harper

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 19, 2009

Jane C. Harper, of Elizabeth, Colo., formerly of Aurora, Colo., died Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.
Jane Campbell Chamberlain was born Dec. 18, 1925, in Albert Lea, daughter of George V. and Edith (Christie) Chamberlain.
A graduate of Albert Lea High School in 1943, she enrolled at the University of Colorado for her freshman year, but finished college in 1947 at the University of Minnesota with majors in journalism and political science. She began her career in journalism at the Albert Lea Tribune while in high school. She also did special writing for the Tribune, the Community Magazine and KATE radio in 1955-56.
After moving to Colorado, she worked for the daily Walsenburg World-Independent, the Gunnison News-Champion and Empire-Courier, and the Aurora Star. In 1960, she became editor of the Colorado Republican Party’s weekly Colorado Trumpet for 12 years, winning numerous press awards. She also assisted several state legislators, both republican and democrat, with weekly columns and stories for their local newspapers.
While president of Colorado Press Women in 1960, she worked with then Colorado Press Association manager Bill Long on journalism education issues. She joined the staff of the Colorado Press Association in 1978 where she produced six biennial legislative directories and worked in all departments before becoming assistant to the manager. In 1988 she began compiling a history of Colorado newspapers. The Colorado Press Association membership elected her to honorary life membership in 1992.
Over the years she belonged to a variety of professional and political organizations, among them Theta Sigma Phi, (journalism honorary) Colorado Press Women, National Federation of Press Women, Republican Women’s Club, Business and Professional Women, the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Connecticut Genealogy Society, Colorado Genealogical Society, Flagon and Trencher, Society of Mayflower Descendents and the Colorado Historical Society. She taught college journalism briefly at Adams State College.
She has been listed in Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who in Colorado. In 1972 she was a Colorado Presidential Elector.
She is survived by her husband, Ralph J. Harper; two daughters, Jennifer Rowe of Aurora, Colo., and Megan Harper-Ramsey (Kurt) of Elizabeth; a grandson, Leland; three granddaughters, Sarah, Julie and Laura; and two great-granddaughters, Parris and Rachel.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael Douglas Hoye (Tana) of Westminster.
No service is scheduled. Jane will be placed to rest next to her father in Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado, 455 Sherman St., Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203, (303) 813-1669.