Jane M. Furlong, former long time Grand Marais resident and Cook County auditor, passed away August 9, 2016 at her home in Bainbridge Island, Washington at the age of 103.
She was the daughter of Thomas I. Carter and Jane Carter (Croft) who moved their family to Grand Marais in 1905 from Duluth where they raised three sons and six daughters including Jane.
Jane was born in Grand Marais, Minnesota in 1913 where she lived and worked for the first 81 years of her life. In 1994 she moved to Leavenworth, Washington to be nearer to her son Jim and followed him to Vancouver, Washington; Wenatchee, Washington and ultimately to her current home on Bainbridge Island.
After graduating from high school in Grand Marais in 1931 she attended St. Benedict’s College in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She then returned to Grand Marais and worked in various positions in the Cook County courthouse, ultimately retiring as county auditor in 1974.
Miss Jane as they called her was adored by her care staff at Madrona House, where she lived the past two years. She received much attention from the staff due in part to her pleasant but feisty personality as well as her age. She was recently featured in a local magazine as the oldest resident on Bainbridge Island.
Besides enjoying frequent visits from her immediate family, Jane was proud of her many nieces and nephews, some of whom were able to recently visit her from all across the country.
Jane is survived by her two sons and daughters in-law, Robert Brock (Helen) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota and Jim Furlong (Teresa) of Bainbridge Island, Washington; four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Jane’s ashes will be buried at Maple Hill cemetery alongside her husband, Clifford Furlong who passed away in 1953.
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