Jane Shilling

Jane Shilling, 79, of Cortez, Colorado passed away peacefully with her twin sister Joyce by her side at the Vista Grande Nursing Home in the early morning of September 27, 2018.
Jane was born on July 11, 1939 in Creede, Colorado to Melvin and Verna (Ward) Shilling. She was the fifth of eight children.
In 1945 the Shilling family moved to Silverton, Colorado. Jane spent her childhood exploring the surrounding mountains with her siblings and friends. She often recounted riding her bike to South Mineral Campground, and selling rocks to the tourists that arrived in Silverton on the train.
In 1950 Jane and her twin sister Joyce appeared as extras in the western A Ticket to Tomahawk featuring Dan Dailey and Marilyn Monroe.
Jane graduated from Silverton High School in 1957. She stayed in Silverton after high school for a few more years and worked at the Grand Imperial Hotel. Silverton was a place that she always held fond memories of, and she returned often to visit family and friends, attended Hard Rockers Holidays, and many school reunions.
In 1960 Jane met Jim Goff of Mancos, Colorado who was working at one of the local mines around Silverton. They were married in Durango in September of 1961. Jim and Jane moved often following Jim’s work as a tramp miner, and raised their sons Lyle, Clifton, and Michael while moving from Colorado to Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Nevada.
Jane was a devoted wife and mother. She also held many jobs over the years as a bartender, waitress, cook and housekeeper.
One of her favorite jobs was bartending for Betty Favorino at the Highway Lounge in Aztec, New Mexico. She had many friends there, and cherished her friendship with Betty all the rest of her life.
In 1980 a lifelong dream of Jane’s came true when she gave birth to her only daughter Jamie Lynne. They shared a special bond that lasted the rest of her life.
In 1983 the family moved to back to Mancos to live on Walter Goff’s ranch in Weber Canyon.
Jane bartended at the VFW Post 5231 for several years where she had many friends as well, and also worked as a cook at Candy’s Restaurant and the Dusty Rose Café.
In 1995 Jane moved to Cortez where she spent her retirement. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, quilting and listening to county music. She made beautiful quilts for all her children and grandchildren. Jane also spent this time helping raise her granddaughters Cierra and Alexa.
Jane was a very thoughtful and generous woman. She enjoyed making gifts for family and friends. She also was proud to donate blood over the years to the American Red Cross.
Jane was a survivor. She lived a challenging life growing up in Silverton enduring harsh winters, and lost her father in a mining accident at the age of eleven. She helped raise her younger siblings, and nephews who she loved dearly. She was also a breast cancer survivor.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents Melvin Lee and Verna Ellen (Ward) Shilling; her brothers Raymond Howard Shilling, Clarence Lee Shilling, Melvin Dean Shilling; sisters Dorothy Ann Shilling, Ellen Rowena Hefner; husband James Edward Goff.
Jane is survived by her twin sister Joyce Smart of Fresno, California; her brother A.J. Shilling of Livermore, Colorado; her children Lyle James Goff of Cortez, Clifton Wayne Goff of Cortez, Michael Walter Goff of Farmington, NM, Jamie Lynne Goff of Cortez; grandchildren Robert, Erica, Allison, Killian, Cierra and Alexa; six great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. October 2, 2018 at Ertel Funeral Home in Cortez, Colorado followed by a graveside service at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Ouray, Colorado where she will be laid to rest with her family.