Obituary of Jeane Duncan Ley

Jeane Duncan Ley November 15, 1921-April 4, 2014 Resident of Santa Cruz Jeane's body surrendered to pneumonia on Friday, April 4, many years after Alzheimer's had overtaken her tenacious mind. She was born in Winona, Minnesota, to Robert Duncan and Senta Fend Duncan, and was the oldest of three. Jeane attended Winona schools including Winona State Teachers College, where she received her teaching credential in 1941. She left Winona to teach in a one-room schoolhouse in rural St. James, Minnesota, and live with a family, with whom she kept in touch for the rest of her life. After a few years she joined her best friend in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she held several jobs, including as a 'stewardess' with Braniff International Airways. As the home of a naval aviation-training base, Corpus Christi drew young men from all across the country, including Leslie W. Ley of Felton, California. As soon as the war ended and Les returned from flying fighter planes off carriers in the Pacific, they were married in Winona on November 10, 1945 and moved to Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz was a small town in 1946 and Jeane loved it. After a couple of quiet newlywed years, Jeane gave birth to Robert in 1948, followed by Douglas in 1951 and Nancy in 1961. As a former teacher she utilized her skill and dedication shepherding her children through the city schools. After 15 years on the east side of Santa Cruz, with the arrival of Nancy the family outgrew their rented home on Dellview and moved across the San Lorenzo River to the west side. They settled on Ortalon Avenue where they built a house near their closest friends. The Santa Cruz community and its well-being were important to Jeane. She and her friends stayed in close touch by telephone, bridge parties and their treasured Pogonip Polo Club (gone, but never forgotten). She served as president of Omega Nu and was on the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Commission from 1960-1964. She was an ardent fan of everything Santa Cruz — particularly the Wharf with its fresh crab and salmon, West Cliff Drive, the Buttery, Marianne's and Shoppers Corner, where she was selecting vegetables when the Loma Prieta Earthquake hit. Jeane cared deeply about young children and broken families. She was an early supporter of the Family Service Agency. Jeane and Les were founding Board Members of the Cabrillo College Foundation and continued to be major supporters throughout their lives. The Les and Jeane Ley Toddler Room in the Cabrillo College Baskin Childcare Center and the Ley Family Classroom in the Solari Green Technology Center in Watsonville recognize their efforts. Jeane is survived by her siblings, Nancy Berg of Chicago and Robert J. Duncan of Port Huron, Michigan, her three children, six grandchildren—Hilary Jager, Ben Ley, Greg Ley, David Ley, Vince Ley and Olivia Ley—and three great-grand children—Elle Jager, Jackson Jager and Celine Ley. Her husband, Les, passed away in 1994. A private memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in her memory to the Cabrillo College Childcare Center or the charity of your choice are appreciated.