Jane Ellen (Farney) Fordyce

Jane Ellen (Farney) Fordyce passed away at the age of 84 years on April 16, 2025, due to complications of dementia. She was born December 12, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan to Shirley Ellen (Gibson) Farney and Jacob Pfister Farney MD who was then training in Obstetrics/Gynecology. The family moved to Leawood, Kansas and then to Kansas City, Missouri where she grew up with her older sister Ann Elaine Farney and younger brother Robert Jacob Farney. She attended The University of Arizona, Tucson where she majored in Fine Arts.

Jane was strikingly beautiful and worked as a model for many years. She married Harvey E. Bergren on Aug 18, 1972. He died Aug 5,1983 of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which he acquired from a tick bite when they were living at Lake Quivira, Kansas. After being introduced on a blind date, Jane married Allen O. Fordyce on Apr 25, 1990. Two Shih Tzu dogs (Brie and Taig) were the beneficiaries of their union and love. Allen grew up as a cowboy on a dude ranch in Sheridan, Wyoming. He later became well known for his black and white photography, typically of landscapes while Jane pursued her career as an artist, specializing in oil painting. She carried portraits of her subjects (and of a few dogs) with her throughout her travels and regarded them as her special “friends.”

Jane and Allen lived in South Carolina, Arizona, Idaho and Texas where they produced and collected artwork particularly from the Southwest United States. While living in Georgetown, Texas, Allen acquired Parkinson’s, disease. He depended on Jane, who was his highly devoted caregiver until he died on Valentine’s Day in 2021 after suffering through many complications and hospitalizations over several years. The following June, she moved to Salt Lake City, UT leaving behind sad memories but many wonderful friends. She met Wayne Morris while living in assisted living at the Pacifica and they quickly became a couple, ultimately sharing an apartment at The Ridge on Highland Drive in Holladay, UT.

Jane is survived by her sister Ann E. Weidensaul of Wichita, Kansas, brother Robert J. Farney of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nieces Mary Ellen Banks, Karen Lee Banks, Rebecca Beth Laws, Elizabeth Ann Lorenzo, Sarah Kathryn Atzet, Jennifer Ellen Koukoumidis and nephew Robert Morton Farney. She was preceded in death by Randall William Banks (nephew), Mary Esther Farney (Niece), and Brie and Taig (dogs).

A memorial service will be held at The Ridge on Saturday, Apr 26, 2025, at 3:00 PM. For those unable to attend, the service will be available online. 

Copy the following Zoom link: us02web.zoom.us/j/84229945951?pwd=mDlZaF6PHK2jWYgBQG34DopggXUIqo.1&jst=3 and paste it in your browser. 

We are grateful for the care provided by her physician Richmond S. Doxey MD, the staff of The Ridge and Elevation Hospice. Jane requested that her ashes be returned with Allen’s and their dogs to his ranch in Sheridan, Wyoming.