Jane Ellis Spragens

Jane Ellis Spragens, June 1, 1921 – February 28, 2024

Jane Ellis Spragens, 102, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2024, in New Braunfels, Texas.

Jane was born in Harrison, Arkansas, and grew up in Austin, San Marcos, and Palestine, Texas. Her adult life took her to Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas, Virginia, and Texas — and for many summers, to Montreat, North Carolina. She held various jobs along the way, ranging from teaching Sunday School at her various Presbyterian churches to working as a camp counselor, recruiting Campfire Girl leaders, and teaching physical education in colleges and universities.

Jane earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education at Texas Women’s University in Denton and also received her doctoral degree in Adaptive Physical Education at TWU. She taught for many years in the College of Physical Education at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, until her retirement in 1986.

Perhaps one of the most demanding jobs of Jane’s life was that of being a pastor’s wife and the mother of five active children. She could pack up a large household and move across several states to start anew and make it seem like a grand adventure. She could feed a table full of guests on short notice, stitch a new dress, knit a beautiful sweater, repair a broken bicycle, and know when a child was getting sick before the first complaint of a symptom.

The love of adventure remained part of Jane’s life into retirement. She traveled the AlCan Highway solo at the age of 65, camping en route until reaching family in Anchorage. Jane camped across the U.S., visiting and studying many state and national parks and monuments along the way, and traveled abroad on Elderhostel tours. Yet, she enjoyed adventure at home, acting as her own contractor to have an old pioneer-style Austin stone house in Pflugerville, Texas, reconstructed from a pile of rubble.

Jane’s family extended far beyond her relatives, as her family in Christ remained always at the center of her life. In retirement, she rejoined old friends and made many new ones as a member of the University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. She served her church in many capacities: as an elder, a volunteer shopper for the food pantry, and a Sunday school teacher, just to name a few.

Jane will be greatly missed by those she leaves behind, as she has missed and grieved the loss of the many who have preceded her in death, including her father, William Paul Ellis; her mother Helen Keithley Ellis; her husband of 32 years John Brewer Spragens, Sr.; and her eldest son John Brewer Spragens, Jr. She is survived by four children, Nancy Springer, Paul Spragens, Tim Spragens, and Becky Magness; by three beloved grandchildren, Daniel Spragens, Kim Gaddy, and Brian Magness; and by two treasured great-grandchildren, Matt Gaddy and Becca Gaddy.

A memorial service for Jane will be held at University Presbyterian Church, 2203 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas, at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University Presbyterian Church, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Texas Women’s University in Denton, or KMFA radio in Austin.