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Jane Rae Clausen Parker ’68

A picture of William Parker and Jane Clausen Parker

Bill Parker ’68 and Jane Clausen Parker ’68

Jane Rae Clausen Parker ’68, February 21, 2013, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. A native of Everett, Washington, Jane began her studies at Washington State University before transferring to Reed, where she earned a BA in general literature. At Reed, she also met her life partner and great love, William H. Parker ’68; they married before their senior year. After leaving Reed, Jane and Bill moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to do graduate work at the University of British Columbia. Jane received a teaching certificate from the university in 1971 and began her career as an English instructor. In 1975, Bill completed his doctoral work in forestry and joined the faculty at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Jane also taught English and technical writing and directed the Writing across the Curriculum program for students in natural resources management. Jane possessed a positive attitude, a quick wit, a gift for conversation, and a passion for teaching. In notifying the college of her death, Bill said that Jane also loved spending time at Sea House, her mother’s summer cottage on Whidbey Island, “almost as much as she loved explaining ‘the central allegory’ to someone who would listen.” One of Bill’s former professors wrote a poem about Jane and the Sea House, “Because Jane Is There,” which expresses the joy and goodwill that Jane brought to the spaces she inhabited and her lingering presence: “Gales of laughter echo through the Sea House constructing new truths. It’s an old fabric, but it must be rewoven for truth to escape.” Jane fought breast cancer for 15 years. Survivors include Bill, a daughter, son, and granddaughter.

Appeared in Reed magazine: September 2013

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