Jane Ann Newby Estus died Sept. 13, 2022 in Tulsa, Okla., one of many cities she called home during her vibrant 90-year life.

Jane was born Sept. 7, 1932 in Grand Rapids, Mich. When she took up reading as a young girl, literature became central to Jane's life. She filled towering bookcases with diverse literature fully embodying who she was: An intelligent, independent, gracious woman who constantly gave herself to her family (and traveled to Italy at any chance).

Jane was raised in Bartlesville, Okla. In 1951, she married Don Estus, the son of her father's officemate at Cities Service Oil Co.

The couple lived very full lives, beginning at Oklahoma A&M University in Stillwater until Don's graduation and subsequent Army service in the Korean War. They then moved all over the country for Don's oil business career, eventually settling in Houston, where Jane felt at home, as she had during the family's stints in Tulsa and Bartlesville along the way.

With them throughout those moves were their sons. Jane's three sons had her endless love, patience and grace. She did anything they needed and endured anything they did, relishing for the rest of her life their retold stories of youthful hijinx.

While Don continued in the oil business in Houston, Jane worked as a librarian at the downtown Houston Public Library, furthering her lifelong love for literature. The couple took many trips to Europe and regularly hosted guests at their townhouse near downtown Houston and beach house in Galveston, consistently creating fun and lasting memories.

Jane and Don retired on a ranch outside LaGrange, Texas. There, among the Texas wildflowers Jane adored, memories with grandchildren blossomed. Jane wrote hundreds of letters from the ranch about life there with Don and visiting family, especially the grandchildren. She could have filled her own novel with ranch stories.

Upon moving back to Tulsa in the late 1990s, Jane began volunteering at the Tulsa Historical Society, which she enjoyed immensely. After Don passed, she remained in Tulsa but traveled frequently to Italy. Eventually, nearly everything she purchased was Italian. Her love of Italy was second only to Don and her family.

Jane maintained exquisite taste in dress and decor among other hobbies of gardening, reading and playing recorder. And most of all, cooking. She effortlessly prepared the finest gourmet food as her love language to friends and family.

Jane was predeceased by her husband, Don Ivan Estus of Tulsa, and her parents, Homer and Margaret Newby of Bartlesville. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, Mike (Novella) of Tulsa, Jim (Susan) of Chicago, and Tom (Ann) of Houston; sister Jean (Leon) Thomson of Bartlesville; grandchildren John, Lauren, Julia, Will, Ben and Robin; and great grandchildren Edgar and Adelaide.

The family thanks the wonderful staff at Trinity Woods. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tulsa Historical Society. A private family service is planned.