HARTWICK – Jane Marie Sheldon, 69, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Friday, February 20, 2026.
Born March 5, 1956, in Levittown, Long Island, Jane was the youngest daughter of William J. and Jane (Mulz) Morris. After moving to Hauppauge in her early years, she was given her first pony at the age of five, sparking a lifelong love of horses. While in high school, she completed the BOCES Horse Science and Management program, filling her days with equestrian study and riding competitions. She continued her education at SUNY Cobleskill, earning a degree in Equine Studies in 1977.
Jane’s passion for horses shaped her
life’s work. She built her career as a riding instructor, horse trainer, and
dedicated 4-H equine volunteer, inspiring generations of young equestrians. She
also coached Otsego County’s 4-H drill, horse bowl, and hippology teams to
numerous state-level successes and was always a teacher at heart.
On November 10, 1979, she married Stephen
Lee Sheldon at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in
Cooperstown. In 1986, they settled at Hemlock Hill Farm in Hartwick, where they
raised four children with a deep appreciation for nature, creativity, and hard
work.
Jane was resilient, generous, and a free
spirit who inspired those around her. She joyfully shared her knowledge of
gardening, food preservation, crafting, and all things equestrian. She will be
remembered for her dedication to family, her grace and tenacity, her joyful
presence, her sense of humor - and for the absolutely legendary hugs she gave
to everyone she loved.
Jane is survived by her four children and
their spouses: William and Lauren Sheldon of Rotterdam; Lindsey and John Havlik
of Cooperstown; Stephanie and Randy Garrett of Charlotte, NC; and Erin and Bob
Ives of Schuylerville; two grandsons, Henry Charles and Levon Scott Sheldon;
her brother-in-law, Eric D. “Rick” Lindroth of Hartwick; three brothers- and
sisters-in-law, David H. and Glenda Sheldon and Gregory W. and Elizabeth
Sheldon of Norwich, and Scott G. and Colleen Sheldon of Milford, PA and
Cooperstown; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to call
from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Connell, Dow &
Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Jane will be laid to rest this spring
beside her husband, Stephen, in the Sheldon Family Plot at Lakewood Cemetery in
Cooperstown following a private service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may
be made to Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Schoharie and Otsego 4-H Equine
Program, 123 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Mercy House of the Southern
Tier, 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY
13760.
