Lifetime resident of Matagorda County, Jane Vaughan Wendt, 82, died December 17, 2016 at her home on Wendt Ranch in Bay City, Texas. She was surrounded by family.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Corinne Clarke and Frank Vaughan; her sister, Corinne Fields; and children, Jimmy and Ann Wendt. She is survived by her husband, Dan Wendt; their two daughters, Kathy Wendt Riggers (husband, Tim Riggers) and Nancy Jane Wendt Kubecka (husband, Gene Kubecka); grandchildren, Daniel Kubecka (wife, Lauren Kubecka) and Jenna Jane Sneed (husband, Jonathan Sneed); great grandchildren, Kinsley and Laney Jane Kubecka; and sister Margaret Ottis.

Jane was born on December 13, 1934. Growing up she and her two sisters loved to play with their pets and take day trips to Galveston. A head cheerleader, homecoming queen, and on the year book team; Jane graduated in 1952 from Bay City High School with dear friends, many of whom she remained close to throughout her life. She married Dan Wendt on March 4, 1953. Together they spent 63 years building a world class Santa Gertrudis herd. They pioneered performance records helping to establish breed standards still revered today. Throughout her tenure, she helped sell cattle internationally, foster youth leadership programs, served on the Mid-Coast Santa Gertrudis Board of Directors, the Santa Gertrudis International board, and selected as the first female president of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International. She and her husband were inducted into the Santa Gertrudis Hall of Fame in 2012.

Jane loved travel and co-owned a travel agency, Travel World, with her sister, Margaret. She was well known for her quick wit, kind spirit, hospitality, and perseverance. Many called her a 'class act' of a lady who was always positive despite whatever circumstances.

Jane was an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church for 63 years that housed many notable life events: her wedding, children's funerals, and children and grandchildren's baptisms and weddings.

Her family invites you to celebrate her life. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 20, 2016 from 5-8 p.m. at Taylor Bros Funeral Home. Funeral services are Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Bay City. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery. Refreshments will follow Cedarvale at St. Mark's Parrish Hall. Serving as pallbearers are Daniel Kubecka, Mike Outlaw, Rusty Atkinson, Erik Wiley, Joe Jones, and Lee Vaughan. Honorary pallbearers are Wes Hall and Jim Corporron

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St Mark's Episcopal Church Endowment Fund,
2200 Ave E, Bay City, TX 77414, Attn: Pam Bullard or National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association, "In honor of Jane Wendt", P.O. Box 1257, Kingsville, TX 78364.