Victoria Jane Ream died April 8, 2016 in Holladay after a long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Jane was born May 15, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts to Adelbert Garr and Naomi Broadhead Cranney. She attended Wellesley College, graduating in 1959 with a degree in biology. After graduation, she did ten years of research in blood coagulation, during which she set up a research laboratory at the University of Virginia Hospital and co-authored several articles in medical journals. Throughout her life, she also authored multiple articles and two books on her other loves: art, flowers, and gardens. She married Dr. John (Jack) Rodney Ream, Jr. in the Logan, Utah Temple on December 22, 1962. Twenty years after the death of Jack, she married Merlin Baker in 2008.
Much of Jane's life was focused on service both in her community and across the globe. Closer to home, she served on the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Advisory Board and Leadership Council; the Huntsman Cancer Institute board to contribute original works of art to the hospital; and the Utah Symphony, Conductor's Circle Advisory Board. She also hosted fundraising events for local charities. With her husband Jack, she did volunteer medical work in Tunisia, Afghanistan, and Liberia. After visiting Tibet in 1987, she helped settle 50 Tibetan refugees in Salt Lake City. She supported orphanages in India, Mongolia, and Russia and spent the last ten years of her life on the Board of Trustees, HUGS International TLC-Mmofra Trom Foundation, which built a school, housing, library, and computer lab for 400 students in Ghana. She worked tirelessly to build and develop a medical clinic also in Ghana.
Jane had many interests and passions including travel, visual and performing arts, food, entertaining, her home, pond, and garden. She was involved for decades in a book club and Authors Club and was fiercely loyal to her family and friends.
Survived by: her children, Rebecca, Rachel (Ted) Lacy, John (Annie), and Victor (Lindsay); five grandchildren (Taylin, Finley, Haven, Remi, Jack); her brother John Cranney; and the many friends who have loved and supported her throughout the years. Preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack Ream, her father Adelbert Garr Cranney, her mother Naomi Broadhead Cranney, and her brother Adelbert Garr Cranney, Jr.
The family wishes to thank all of the amazing medical staff and caregivers who kindly and compassionately attended to Jane over these past months.
Funeral services will be held at Friday, April 15th at 11:00 am at the Cottonwood Fourteenth Ward, 2080 East 5165 South. Friends may call at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South from 6-8 pm on Thursday, April 14th and at the ward from 9:30-10:45 am on Friday, prior to the service. Interment in Dingle, Idaho on Saturday, April 16th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Project Bead (www.projectbead.com) to support the school in Mmofra Trom; Huntsman Cancer Institute; or Women for Women International.
