Jane Stephenson

Jane Stephenson of Ferndale, NY the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in NYC passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the Care Center at Sunset Lake, Liberty, NY. She was 89.

The daughter of the late Claude Maxwell Stanley and Mabel Elizabeth Holthues, she was born September 11, 1936 in Muscatine, Iowa.

Stephenson received her bachelor’s degree from Iowa Wesleyan, a master’s degree from the Theater Department at Northwestern University and a Doctorate from the University of Denver focusing on the costuming of Victorian stage actor, Sir Henry Irving.

In 1959 she met and married Donald Guy “Deeg” Buckles. Together they created Tent at the Lake, in Springfield, Illinois, a summer outdoor theater Company. Stephenson taught costume and set design at the University of New Mexico then managed costume design at the University of Denver while working on her doctorate. While researching for her thesis, she and her children moved to London for two years. She also spent five years in Pakistan with her children during which she began Mogul Ltd, a global clothing design wholesaler.

Stephenson Co-Founded The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts with her son Guy Buckles in 1992 and spent the next 30 years until her retirement at the New York-based non-profit dedicated to supporting visual artists across all disciplines by providing affordable studio space, exhibition opportunities, and professional printmaking facilities.

Survivors include her daughters Donna and Laura, her son Guy and her grandchildren Isa and Nur.

A memorial visitation will be Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 11 AM in the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY. A celebration of life will begin at 11 AM in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers it was Jane’s wish to have donations go to The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts at The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, Attn: Charlie Fischetti, 323 West 39th Street, New York, NY 10018.

Dignified cremation provided by Harris Crematorium LLC. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, West St. at Buckley, Liberty, NY 845-292-0001 or 845-439-5200 or www.Harris-FH.com