Jane C. Welch

Jane Claire Collier Welch passed away at Cooperwood Senior Living in Flowood, MS on October 13, 2024. Jane was born near Ferriday, LA on Sept. 23, 1930, the only child of Charles and Jewel Bryce Collier.

A child of the Depression, she never knew that her family was poor. At an early age her family moved to Lake St. John, LA. In later life, a vacation home was built on the adjoining property on the lake, which has served as a much beloved family gathering site for decades.

Jane attended Ferriday schools until closings caused by annual spring floodings prompted her parents to send her to Co-Lin Agricultural School in Wesson, MS, where she finished high school. After graduation Jane enrolled at the University of Kentucky where she first followed a medical technician track, then switched to geology. Upon graduating UK with a geology degree, Jane took a job with the US Geological Survey, based in Lexington, KY. That is where she met her future husband, Stewart Welch, who was also a geologist. The two were married in Lexington and were happily married for the next 59 years.

After sons Charlie and John were born, the young family ended up in Jackson, MS in the late ‘50s, after Stewart accepted a job with Shell Oil Company. Jane and Stewart made the decision to remain in Jackson when Shell moved their regional office to New Orleans. They remained there for the rest of their lives and their boys grew up there. Jane helped out with Stewart’s independent oil and gas exploration business, and also took jobs at Jackson elementary schools. She stayed busy raising her boys, serving as Cub Scout den mother, team mother, and many other roles. She loved it all.

After the boys grew up and moved away, Jane and Stewart were fortunate to travel internationally to places they had always wanted to visit, including Scotland, China and Greece. What Jane most wanted people to know and remember about her was that she loved her family dearly and that she felt fortunate to have lived such a rich and fulfilling life. She looked forward to re-joining Stewart and is now finally together with him again.

Jane was a member of Fondren Presbyterian Church of Jackson and is survived by her sons–Charlie Welch & daughter in law Andrea Katz of Durham, NC and John Welch & daughter in law Betsy Welch of Brandon, MS; grandchildren–Alena Welch & spouse Joe Greenberg of Durham, NC, Duncan Welch & spouse Brittany Welch of Norfolk, VA, Thomas Welch & spouse Lauren Welch of Victoria, TX, and Matthew Welch & spouse Mallory Welch of Clinton, MS; Great-grandchildren–Porter Welch and William Welch both of Victoria, TX.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that you please consider a donation in Jane's memory to Fondren Presbyterian Church. https://www.fondrenpcusa.org/