Jane Dury

Katharine Jane Houston Kirby Dury, known to her friends as Jane, entered into eternity on March 26, 2025 at the age of 88. Her grandson, Jeff and great-grandson, Orion were at her side as she gently slipped away.

Jane was born on June 15, 1936 in Boise, Idaho to Frances Oberthier Houston and Theodore Brown Houston. Jane moved to Hereford, Texas at age 10, eventually graduating from Hereford High School, marrying Terry K. Kirby and having two children: Alisa Kirby Brown and Terrance Houston Kirby; three grandchildren: Jeffrey Brown, Timothy Brown, and Houston Kirby; and two great-grandchildren: Orion Rubio Brown and Dahlia Rubio Brown. Jane is survived by each of these offspring and their spouses: Lynn Kirby, Jessica Rubio, and Deanna Candelaria.

After a brief time living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jane and family moved to Abilene, Texas, which became her home for the next 40 years. Jane was widowed in 2000, then married Casper Dury in 2005. She was widowed again in 2010. In 2012 Jane moved to Asheville, making Bella Vista her home until health issues no longer allowed her to live independently.

Jane played contract bridge and was a Life Master. She also enjoyed drawing, painting, quilting and playing the piano. Jane volunteered as a hospital candy-striper, and trained her dogs to be therapy dogs, taking them to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

Jane had a passion for leaving the world a better place, so she donated regularly to her church and various charities. It is for this reason that in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to any of the following charities of your choice:

Parkinsons Support Group of Asheville: https://parkinsonsavl.org/

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Asheville, NC: https://www.stlukesavl.org/ St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital: https://www.stjude.org/

Therapy Dogs International: https://tdi-dog.org/ The ASPCA: https://secure.aspca.org/donate/

Final arrangements are being made by Blue Ridge Funeral & Cremation Service of Mars Hill, North Carolina (www.blueridgefuneralservice.org). A graveside memorial service will take place at the cemetery in Hereford, Texas, date and time to be announced.