Jane Arlene Ribley Hearne

Jane Arlene Ribley Hearne, passed away in her home at Heronrest Farm outside of Harrisville, West Virginia, on Monday, January 19, 2026.

She is survived by her husband Charles Eugene “Gene” Hearne (Harrisville, WV); son Damon Kyle Hearne (Leicester, NC), grand-daughters Julianna Rebecca Hearne and Coralie Jane Hearne; daughter Carrie Ella Hearne (Richmond, VA); Sister Lynn Wiescholek (Eduard) (Hendersonville, NC) and Brother Lee James Ribley (Black Mountain, NC).

Born in Bloomington, Illinois, on June 15, 1947 to the late father, Lyle James Ribley, and mother, Arlene Jannusch Ribley. She moved to Kissimmee, Florida, at a young age and spent her childhood in then-rural central Florida where she played the glockenspiel and learned to drive her father’s ’57 Chevy sitting on a phonebook.

Jane Ribley met her husband, Charles Eugene Hearne (“Gene”), at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, and they were married in the manner of Friends (Quakers) on Sunday, December 28, 1969, in the Warren Wilson Chapel. She earned a degree in early child psychology and would become a teacher in both public and private schools.

Jane was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter. She was an avid reader and book club leader, gardener, recycler and composter, baker, and an artful craftsperson in embroidery and quilting. She was diligent in handwritten correspondence, keeping in communication with friends and family from across the many decades of her life.

Jane was raised Presbyterian and became a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) where she was a member and faithful worshiper with the Mid-Ohio Valley Friends Meeting in Marietta, Ohio. She served as Clerk and then Treasurer of the Meeting for many years, also helping to plan many Quaker retreats across West Virginia.

Gene and Jane moved to Ritchie County, West Virginia, in the early 1970’s where they found a farm to purchase, built a beautiful home in stages around a ramshackle ‘shack’ that had cattle living in it when they arrived, grew many seasons of bountiful gardens and raised a loving family at Heronrest Farm.

Jane served the Ritchie County community in numerous ways over the many decades. In the latter part of her 26 years with the Ritchie County Public Library system she was the head librarian at the Pennsboro Branch where she led summer children’s programs, held space for the diverse members of the community and was always happy to help patrons find exactly what they needed.

Jane was a founding member of the Ritchie County Solid Waste Authority and Ritchie County Recycling Center in the early 1990’s. She has since spent many decades as a board secretary, volunteer extraordinaire and site manager, helping divert thousands of tons of waste from the landfill and living her steadfast values as an environmental steward.

Across the seasons, Jane spent many hours in her large garden growing vegetables, flowers, and herbs to feed the family and beautify the farm. She grew tomatoes, corn, beans, kale, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash and pumpkins, among many other crops, which she and her husband Gene would preserve for year-round enjoyment. Her most recent discovery was a 22″+ pole bean variety.

Contributions in loving memory of Jane may be made to the West Virginia Economic Justice Project of the American Friends Service Committee, American Friends Service Committee

1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, or online at https://afsc.org/; or your favorite non-profit that supports the world Jane believed we could all share.

Jane was a treasure to all and will be sorely missed and so lovingly remembered.

There will be a small private burial service followed by a memorial service at a time to be announced. Friends and family may email damonhearne@gmail.com for arrangements.

Online condolences may also be sent to the family at www.McCulloughRaiguel.com.