1956
2019
JANE CAROLYN YII
May 21, 1956 ˜ May 26, 2019
Jane Carolyn Yii, 63, formerly of Gainesville, FL, passed to the next world on Sunday, May 26th in Vancouver, WA due to complications from leukemia. Jane had been a resident of Clark County for the past 12 years. She was the eldest of two children, born to Roland and Myrtle Yii and on May 21st, 1956 in Chester County, PA. The Yii family relocated to Florida when Jane was a young child, where she grew up and attended public school and college.
Jane began performing publicly as a vocalist and guitarist in 1977. A dynamic solo performer and generous with her time in performing benefit shows, she and her other fellow musicians always produced great music.
After moving to Vancouver in 2007, Jane started a new career as a music educator to children. She was devoted and fiercely loyal to ’her kids,’ particularly those who were in trouble or were trapped in abusive situations. She never stopped trying to help these young people, even in the face of insurmountable odds. Always frugal, Jane also continued to hold ’day jobs’ on the side, working as a florist, massage therapist and at one point, a ’service engine optimization writer’ for an online auto parts company.
Jane eventually started performing again, learning to play bass and appearing with jazz and blues bands in the Portland and Vancouver area. In recent years, she shared her talents with residents of hospitals and nursing homes. Jane will live on in her music and in the hearts of all she touched.
Please sign her guest book @ www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
I´ll never forget her, she sang and played guitar at my daughter Julie´s memorial service in Gainesville, Fl July 1996
Annette Bridwell
Friend
July 18, 2023
dear jane and all who knew and loved her,
i still miss you greatly, jane, and keep you in my music, my thoughts, and my heart. from reading her life history, she was a sensitive, open, and active artist and person who lived her ideals of caring for others, especially the elderly, hospitalized, and young. i regret not having been able to play with her musical group, as we had talked about it many times on the phone. i still hope to come to florida to be part of a memorial for her.
you were/are a unique spirit, jane, and i am with you wherever you walk now, and you are with me inside my heart, my dearest cousin.
royal hartigan
Family
June 3, 2023
dear jane and all who knew and loved her,
i miss you still my dearest cousin, and despite the covid obstacles, will come to florida to honor you once this cloud clears. i look forward to playing with the wonderful artists you performed with and meeting all the people who were/are a part of your life and music.
i saw your many videos playing at festivals, clubs, hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, teaching, sharing with your heart, you gave a deep gift to us all.
i am sorry i never got to play with you but dedicate my music to you now and always.
anyone who knew jane is welcome to contact me at [email protected].
wherever you are jane, my heart is with you, in spirit and music, love,
royal
royal hartigan
Family
June 3, 2022
dear jane and all who knew and loved her,
it is two years since you passed and i feel just as empty as when i found out in late may 2019. you brought light and love to so many people of all ages with you music and caring. i would give anything to perform with you in your musical group. we had planned to do that but then you were taken.
i will come to florida once the virus clears and be part of a memorial tribute/celebration of life for jane. feel free to contact me at the email address - [email protected] - if you knew jane personally or musically, i look forward to connecting with you all.
jane, you are in my heart now and always, and i play my music for you, in spirit and music, forever, my dearest cousin.
love,
royal
royal hartigan
Family
June 3, 2021
I was just thinking about you jane..ths other day and how much I miss you. Hope andy is there with you on the other side :) wish we could've met up another time before you passed. We did have the best times as children didnt we? So much fun.
Lisa Wray
June 3, 2020
it has been a year and time does not lessen the emptiness, pain, and loss. i only wish i had been able to see jane and play with her and her groups. we had planned on doing that before she fell ill the last months in 2019. she is my cousin and beloved friend.
i will keep jane in my music, my heart, and my life always. i look forward to coming to florida and honoring jane once the virus clears. if anyone that knew, played with, or was close to jane wants to contact me feel free at the email listed here.
here is a poem i sent last year, read at her memorial by her sister, my beloved cousin allison, now again for jane, with all my love -
HOPI PRAYER FROM OUR ANCESTORS, FOR OUR ANCESTORS
words form the hopi people of southwest native america and royal hartigan 1999
now for jane yii, may 2019
do not stand at my grave and weep, i am not there i do not sleep
i am a thousand oregon winter winds that blow, i am the diamond glints on snow
i am the summers sun on the ripened grain, i am the gentle autumns rain
i am pennsylvania harvest leaves of red and orange and gold, i am the life force of all beings, great and small, fleeting and eternal, young and old
i am mountain meadows of brown and tan and green, i am the inner secret shadow spirits of all things, visible and unseen
i am gainesvilles dawning dew in mays blooming mist, i am the heartbeat of your dreams kissed
i am the sounds of music and dance and song from up on high, i am the clouds in an endless vancouver sky
when you awaken in the mornings quiet hush, i am the swift uplifting rush of birds in circled flight
i am the soft stars that shine on a moonlit florida night
so do not stand at my grave and cry, i am not there, i did not die
____________
and as before, jane, wherever you go we are with you near or far, and wherever we walk on the paths of this long cold night of life without you, you are right here with us, inside our hearts
a mirror for each others souls through time and space we are one, and someday yet again we will be whole as we awaken together in the evenings midnight sun
as we awaken together in the evenings midnight sun
and well dance with spirits deep, playing your guitar, sing with all your students the whole way through,
well laugh at lifes old ills, and to each other be true, as we awaken together in the evenings midnight sun
in the evenings midnight sun
we are one
we are one
we are one
alloneall
oneall
beyond forever
and, finally, at rest with you, dearest jane, with our hearts and spirit
loving you,
always
royal hartigan
Family
June 3, 2020
Jane and I knew each other in our mother's wombs. We were best friends as children and growing up, we had many adventures together. I love(d) Jane and admired her very much. I wish I could have gotten back in touch with her after my husband passed away. RIP Jane, 'till we meet again. I will never forget you dear friend.
Lisa Wray Mazzanti
July 23, 2019
Jane is my cousin and our families met occasionally when we were children and these are the most precious memories for me. Jane was interested in her Chinese heritage early and we played with calligraphy and drawing in a basement very young. She also gave me some of my first guitar lessons in a tent in our backyard in middle school. Cicily Jane played music at my wedding in 86 and I visited her house in Gainesville after we adopted our first child. We lost touch later in life when she moved West but always connected easily on occasions to catch up. I understood some of her struggles but she was fiercely independent and kept her battles private. I miss her.
Carlton Gay
June 25, 2019
I was surprised when I saw Jane had passed. I lost contact with her the last 3 years. So, I never knew she had luekemia I am very sorry I did not get to make contact with her, She worked for me at Firstenburg Community Center. She had a very strong passion for music and taught classes in music at the center and other classes with young children. She could connect with the kids really well. My thoughts go out to her family, I believe she said she one sister know that she will be missed.
Patty Krebs
June 23, 2019
I only knew Jane for the last few weeks of her life. Her essence was one of pure love and joy. Jane left this Earth with a smile on her face in anticipation of her next great adventure. She will be missed by all who knew her. Shine on dear Jane
Linda Hospice RN
June 17, 2019
For a dear friend Rest In Peace rose is waiting for you the two of you are one again love Shauna
June 12, 2019
Shine on, beautiful Jane.
Darlene
June 10, 2019
Wishing you safe and peaceful passage in your new journey Jane.
Thank you for all you brought to; and shared in this time and life here.
So much beautiful music; and powerful meaning in the lyrics....I know it brought meaning and joy to me; and so many.
Peacefully,
Deborah Hart
Deborah
June 9, 2019
dear friends and family of jane, please contact me if there is anything i can do to honor jane's memory. i am at [email protected] and can send my phone number once i am contacted via email.
i miss her greatly and hope to connect with those who knew and played with her.
in spirit and music,
royal hartigan
www,blooddrumspirit.com
royal hartigan
June 9, 2019
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