Doris “Jayne” Meadows of Springfield, Missouri, died May 26, 2018, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Known as Jayne to her family and friends or simply as “Doc” by her students, she and the unique gifts she brought to the world will be missed.

Jayne was an artist, teacher, mentor and friend to many. She was born February 26, 1935 in Riverside County, California to Jesse H. Meadows and Dollie (Whitmore) Meadows. The middle of three kids, she grew up on the family ranch in Corona, California until her father moved the family back to Missouri, where he was born and raised, to a large ranch along Bull Creek in rural Christian County in 1950.

After graduation from Ozark High School, Jayne decided to pursue her passion for art, first graduating from what is now Missouri State University with a degree in art education, then receiving a master in art from the University of Missouri-Columbia and eventually earning her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. She was a gifted painter but truly shined as a potter, specializing in clay horses, wolves and other life-like creations. As one of just a few high school classroom teachers with a Ph.D., Jayne’s decades of Springfield Public School’s students (at Central, Hillcrest, Parkview and Glendale) called her simply “Doc.” She continued to create works of art in clay her whole life, exhibiting and selling pieces across the U.S. After her teaching career ended, Jayne kept busy by working in the woodworking shop at Silver Dollar City, at the Ozark Empire Fair, teaching in community art programs and volunteering.

Jayne played a vital role in the lives of her family. She raised as her own children her great-niece and great-nephew, Ronetta Rice, of Columbia, Missouri, and Jason Woods, of Jefferson City, Missouri. Ronetta, along with her son, Logan Rice, Jason and his children survive Jayne, along with several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister, Dora Elizabeth Woods of Ozark, and her brother, Jesse James (Jim) Meadows of Springfield.

Visitation will be at Greenlawn East in Springfield at 2 pm, Tuesday, May 29th, followed by a funeral at 4 pm. Jayne will be buried beside her siblings, parents, grandparents and other relatives at Hopedale Cemetery in Ozark, Missouri.