Jane Thomas McGehee Wilson

Jane Thomas McGehee Wilson, 92, died October 15, 2018. Born in Little Rock September 30, 1926 to Ruby and Herbert L. Thomas, Sr., she lived on a farm in Fayetteville from age 12 until she graduated from the University of Arkansas. She earned a degree in philosophy with a minor in history and was president of her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. In 1947, Jane married Frank Ellis McGehee, Sr. and moved back to Little Rock. They had three sons: Frank McGehee, Jr., Jim McGehee, and Scott Dickinson McGehee. Deeply involved in her community, Jane served on numerous boards and in leadership roles for a range of organizations. She was a president of the Junior League of Little Rock, and a life member of the UAMS Foundation Board for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She was also a life member of the UAMS College of Nursing advisory board and a powerful advocate for this profession. Jane was also chairman of the University of Arkansas Foundation for the University System. She was a founding member of both the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (now the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute) board and the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute board. When she became a widow at 51, Jane's involvement with the Arkansas Arts Center deepened, working tirelessly as a fundraiser. Her honors included the Chancellor's Award at UAMS, the Arts Center's Rockefeller Award (the second recipient in 1974), and in 2018, the Service Award at the Arts Center's Beaux Arts Ball. Jane was a fearless fundraiser for causes she believed in and claimed that her training began at age12 when she sold poppies on the streets of Fayetteville for Veterans of Foreign Wars. She honed her skills selling ads for the Tip Top Times in 7th grade, realizing it was generally best to approach the financial decision-makers to close the sale. It made sense, of course, when she entered one paint store in town and immediately asked to speak to either Mr. Sherwin or Mr. Williams. By the time she chaired the first AAC Tabriz committee she was at ease sending requests to the Shah of Iran and the president of Ireland, asking them to send valuable items to Little Rock for the Arts Center's auction. Besides fundraising, Jane enjoyed tennis, bridge and golf. She was an accomplished artist and a member of the Little Rock Garden Club since 1973. She loved the spiritual home she found at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock and served on the Vestry. Jane was a committed Democrat, and her recent response to a young woman's request for life advice was "Keep Voting." She married Robert Martin Wilson in 1990, and together they traveled the world. Besides her husbands, Frank McGehee and Robert Wilson, she was preceded in death by her son, Frank McGehee Jr.; her stepson, Robert Wilson; and two brothers, Herbert Thomas, Jr. of Little Rock and Jim Thomas of Tuckerman. She is survived by her twin sister, Jean Gordon; sons Jim McGehee of Lexington, Kentucky, and Scott D. McGehee of Arezzo, Italy; stepson, Charles Wilson; daughter-in-law, Lisa McNeir; grandchildren, Ellis McGehee Carter (Myles), Scott T. McGehee (Angel), Robert Wilson (Cate), Jillian Wilson (Sam), Sam McGehee (Lourdes), Max McGehee, Sophie McGehee, Starke McGehee, and Helen Wilson; and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held at Trinity Cathedral in Little Rock at 2 p.m. Monday, October 22. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the UAMS College of Nursing, the Arkansas Arts Center, or Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. She was deeply loved by her family, friends, and community. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.