Jane Dell died peacefully in Napa on Saturday, August 3, 2024. She was born on November 9, 1937, and raised in Princeton, where she spent most of her life.
She grew up her daddy’s cowgirl, helping with the cattle and on a horse more often than not. She would share stories of her mother, Charlotte, wishing she would wear dresses and keep her hair in curls, when she was usually in jeans and boots, disheveled from a day of riding and ranching with her dad.
She loved animals and had several dogs, cats, and horses through all stages of her life, and even an occasional bunny or lamb, and more than a few bummer calves. At one point, she had a blind bummer calf named Rudy that she turned into an educational project, touring various local elementary schools and using him as a lesson in overcoming adversity.
She was married to John Young of Princeton and had three children, Tina, Greg and Joe. John and Jane spent time in San Diego and Seattle while he was in the Navy and then moved back to Princeton to raise their family.
She moved to Colusa for several years while married to Walt Griffith, where she got to relive her cowgirl dreams. Her grandchildren fondly remember bottle feeding calves, riding horses, learning about leather tooling and taking plane rides with her during this time.
She moved back to her childhood home in Princeton to be with her father, Ross Campbell, in the 1990s, and her other passion in life flourished. She was hired as a teacher’s aide (for the second time) at Princeton Elementary School and worked there for several years, and later working at Willows Middle School.
She loved her job and cared for her students long after they graduated. Hundreds of Princeton and Willows kids called her Grandma and claimed her as their own. The very day she died one of her former students actually showed up at her doorstep to say hello and check in, nearly 20 years after he graduated.
While back in Princeton, she met her third husband, Alan Dell, and they enjoyed more than 21 years married together. She often joked that she was a cradle robber, being that lucky number 3 was 12 years her junior.
Al and Jane enjoyed time on the river fishing, and took up hobby farming, delivering fresh vegetables to much of Princeton from their ever-growing garden. They had chickens that became pets; and never knew a stray. They had several cats and dogs at all times, and always a horse or three.
She loved a spicy book, a laid-back party, and a cold beer.
She is survived by her third husband, Alan Dell of Princeton; daughter Tina (Ben) Gordon of Princeton; son Joe (Audrey) Young of Yuba City; brother Jim (Cindy) Campbell of Princeton; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside service is set for 10 a.m. on Friday, August 16, at the Princeton Cemetery. Following the service, a celebration of life for her is planned at Ben and Tina Gordon’s home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please consider donating to Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter in honor of her love for all animals, or the Princeton Elementary School to help her beloved Princeton Eaglets.
The Glenn County Observer 