Jonesboro- Elizabeth Jane Hailey LeBlanc, 102, stepped into glory with her Savior Jesus on November 1, 2018. Born across the street in her parents\u0027 home on December 11, 1915, Jane was the firstborn of Robert Wendell and Favorita Elizabeth Burns Hailey. Jane was preceded in death by her sisters, Martha Viola Hailey and Nancy Hailey Taylor, and by her former husband, Thomas A. LeBlanc.

Jane is survived by her niece, Martha Taylor Sanders of Hazen, and her nephew Thomas Joseph Taylor, Sr. (Karen) of Lakeland TN; her great nephew T.J. Taylor (Erin) of Saginaw, TX, and great niece Lauren Taylor Beach (Sean), of Nashville TN; her great-great nephew and niece, Trey and Cassie Taylor; her cousins, Carol Burns Smelley, Sandra Burns, Dr. Charles M. Burns (Cathy), Elaine Burns Moctezuma (Pedro), Joe Stuck Burns, Dr. Richard Smith (Susan), Mike Smith, Tlaloc Moctezuma Burns, Olin Moctezuma Burns, Lili Hamlyn, Reuben Hamlyn, Rose Smith Glueck (Dane) and Desmond Glueck.

Jane was a dynamo of energy and curiosity. With her pioneering spirit, she accomplished many "firsts" in her life and career, touching many lives for good. Valedictorian of Jonesboro High School class of 1933, she later became the youngest and first female office manager of National Life and Accident Insurance Company, transferring to Springfield, MO to take this position at age 21. While there she met Tom LeBlanc whom she married in April of 1942, and as a war bride was transferred with him to multiple states. The couple moved to Jane\u0027s hometown after WWII ended. They acquired Jonesboro Hearing Aid Service after Tom suffered a severe hearing loss due to a medication he was given and began wearing hearing aids. Jane managed their office, learning all the ins and outs of the trade. Her interest in what would become her lifelong career began there.

Jane and her husband were pioneers in the hearing aid business, writing the legislation for Arkansas that required dealers to be licensed and to have training in order to dispense aids. To better serve their customers, they decided she should become an audiologist, so in 1964 Jane started classes at Memphis State University (MSU), earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at age 50 in 1966. She was the first to be awarded this degree from MSU. In 1967, Jane became the first female audiologist to work at Arkansas Rehabilitation Service in the Audiology Center located on the grounds of the School for the Deaf at Little Rock. While working there, she also completed a Master of Science in Audiology degree from Vanderbilt University in 1968, concentrating much of her interest in testing and rehabilitation of children with disabilities and hearing loss. In 1969, she was one of only three certified audiologists in the state of Arkansas. She helped to write the licensure requirements in audiology for the state of Arkansas and holds the second license issued in this state.

In 1971, George Y. Herndon, Ph.D., recruited Jane to Arkansas State University to assist in establishing a Bachelor of Science degree program in Speech Pathology, with the intention of developing the Master in Speech Pathology (MSP) degree program afterwards. Jane helped develop curriculum, taught and eventually earned her MSP degree in 1973 at ASU. Active at both the state and national level in both Audiology and Speech Pathology, Jane\u0027s accomplishments and awards are numerous.

After retiring from ASU in 1980, Jane went to work as audiologist for William C. Young, MD, who had recently moved to town. She continued with him as Otolaryngology and Facial Surgery Center grew, working with as many as six physicians and three audiologists, all of whom she loved and admired, until her health forced her to retire in 2008.

In her own words, Jane writes, "I wish to add that all my life has not been work, work, and work. I have lived and worked in eight states during my lifetime. I have traveled extensively - behind the Iron Curtain, China (twice), most countries in Europe (some more than once), Castro's Cuba, Panama and Central America, Puerto Rico, many of the Caribbean Islands, Australia and New Zealand, Canadian Rockies as well as the St. Lawrence region of Canada, most of the continental U.S. and Alaska. I have been very active in my church, Jane joined the church at age 9, but has been on the roster since 1916, teaching Sunday School, being on committees including writing our first Constitution and By-laws, and was church Parliamentarian until 2009. Also I was the first granddaughter member of the Twentieth Century Club, Jonesboro's oldest woman's literary club. I have been a member since 1952 and wrote the History of the Club's First Hundred Years when we had our Centennial Celebration in 2001. The local library requested a copy for the Arkansas room which I thought was an honor. Also I was included as one of Jonesboro's "Most Fascinating People" for the July 2007 issue of our local magazine Celebrate. Each day is a gift from God and I am thankful to have been able to be so active for so many years and hope my life has been useful to others."

As a footnote, on January 4, 2017, Jane gave a presentation to the Twentieth Century Club entitled, "Jonesboro a Hundred Years Ago", and was presented a Key to the City of Jonesboro by Mayor Harold Perrin.

A celebration of Jane\u0027s life will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro. Reverend Bill Bruce and Kathy Holler will officiate. Visitation will be from noon until time of service Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

The family would especially like to thank the many individuals within this community, as well as her personal care givers, for the kindnesses and consideration you have extended to our loved one over the past few years. Because of you, Jane was able to remain independent and at home. You all know how much that meant to her. Thank you.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Jane H. LeBlanc Graduate Clinical Scholarship in Communication Disorders, care of The Craighead County Community Foundation, 407 Union, Jonesboro, AR. 72401.