Jane Arnold

Jane was born in Merced, CA, in 1931, to Charlotte and R. Goodson Craddick. Jane spent most of her school years in Alturas, CA, but graduated from Fall River High School in McArthur, CA. She attended University of California at Berkeley, majoring in anthropology and enjoying Jazz music at venues in the city with her brother Marrs.

It was during a break from school while visiting her parents that she went with some friends to Adin, CA. They lined a field with their car’s headlights so a crazy pilot could land his plane in the dark. That pilot was Thomas Leo Arnold. They were married in February 1953. Tom built their house down the road from his parents and they commenced their life of almost 60 years together on their farm outside of McArthur, CA. In short order, James Goodson, Carolyn, and Bruce Thomas were born. A few years later, Lee made her appearance. In addition to helping on the farm, raising the children, gardening, preserving, raising chickens and cooking for various events such as branding, harvest and roundups; Jane was a look-out for the Forest Service, a substitute teacher, and a clerk at the Inter-Mountain Fair. She was a Cub Scout den mother, also leading 4-H classes and helping with the many activities her children were involved in over the years. When Tom decided to farm potatoes, she worked alongside him.

Jane’s fascination with anthropology continued throughout her life, reading and visiting places of historical interest. She was an excellent cook and had the knack of making any and all feel welcome and at home when they visited.

In their retirement years, Jane and Tom traveled with their trailer, preferring the rugged and geological sites in Arizona and Nevada. Avid rockhounds, Tom cut and polished, and Jane made jewelry from stones they found. They also made a point of camping with their growing family. Jim and Mary Arnold’s three girls, Jamie, Erin and Laura, Carolyn and Richard Mensch’s children, Marlene, Denise and Jacob, Bruce Arnold’s family, Jack and Tim with Dawn, then Pearl and Clinton Brower with Lillian, and Lee and Mark Swetnika’s Anna, Thomas and Karl. Each grandchild treasures memories of travels with their Arnold grandparents.

After Tom’s death in 2012, Jane moved to Red Bluff, CA to live with her daughter, Lee. It was quite a challenge to keep enough books on her Kindle for her extensive reading! She enjoyed frequent visits from her fifteen great-grandchildren and their parents.

Jane will be missed by all those who knew her, but each one of her family and friends will remember the warmth of her love and the sparkle of her smile.