Jane Margaret Witter Revesz, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, scholar and tree farmer, passed away on Dec. 17, 2023, at the age of 89.
Jane was born in Vancouver, Washington, on Aug. 26, 1934, to nurse Winifred Ellen (Fletcher) and dentist Leon Evan (Doc) Witter, growing up on a tree farm on the North Fork of the Lewis River. When not in school, much of her childhood was spent outdoors with her parents and big sister Lee and friends who lived up and down the river. Jane skipped a grade and graduated as valedictorian of her class at 16, entering the nursing program at the University of Portland. There she met lifelong friend Shirley (Vernetti) Newcomb.
After graduation, Jane moved to Denver and was working as a nurse when she met her future husband, Pete Revesz. Originally from Hungary, Pete had recently been hired on as a telephone engineer with Mountain Bell after a stint in the Army. Jane and Pete shared a lifelong, deep and abiding love of music, science and the American fiWest, all of which they first explored together in Colorado.
During the 1960s, Jane and Pete raised their two children and enjoyed the outdoors with friends and family. Jane taught nursing part time and earned her master’s degree in maternal nursing from the University of Colorado. In 1976, the family homestead moved to Chester, New Jersey, after Pete’s job was transferred. There, Jane completed her coursework in NYU’s PhD program in maternal nursing, commuting into New York City by train and subway two days a week.
Jane and Pete returned to Denver in 1980 where Jane completed her PhD. Her dissertation presented the results of a cross-cultural study of children’s fears she conducted in the Denver Public School system.
Parental care and a growing interest in tree farming led Jane and Pete back to Battle Ground. They settled in a house near Lewisville Park where they remained for more than 30 years, moving to assisted living in November 2022.
In addition to her husband and two children, Jane’s legacy is being carried on through her sister, Lee; grandchildren, Jason and Amie Stevens and Charlotte Revesz; and loving cousins, nieces, nephews, godfamily, tree farm community and dear friends.
A memorial gathering will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University Portland, Women of Wonder, or WFFA.
