Helen Jane Gray Bull was a positive force her entire life who brought intelligence, wit, and a little sparkle to whatever she did.
Jane, as she liked to be called, was born prematurely on June 16, 1939 in Gadsden, Alabama. Her parents borrowed money to pay for her early medical care. Despite her shaky beginning, she grew into a thriving child and started singing at a young age, frequently winning local talent shows. Singing jazz and blues became her passion and as a teenager she became the lead singer for a local band and traveled throughout Alabama performing in music clubs. She was also doing commercials for local businesses, and recording records. Jane’s recording of “Gimme, Gimme” with the Noojinaires, was selected by the listeners of a Birmingham radio station as one of the top hits in the summer of 1959, along with songs by Elvis Presley and Ray Charles.
While in college, she auditioned to be a back-up singer for Roy Acuff, whose nickname was “The King of Country Music”, and performed with him at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and during his USO tour of western Europe. On the tour, Jane met the love of her life, “her lieutenant”, Charles Bull, the escort officer for the tour, who was from San Antonio, Texas. Jane chose to start a new adventure in Texas with her lieutenant and they married on June 30, 1959. She joked, “I got to Texas as soon as I could.”
Jane and Charles settled in Austin and started their family. Charles worked for his family business, Wayne Bull Auto Parts, managing the warehouse there. In 1969, they moved to San Antonio so that Charles could take over the helm of the family business when his father, Wayne Bull, died. Charles often said Jane was his trusted confidant and advisor on all aspects throughout their life together.
With four children, spread across seven years, Jane was busy. She served as a Girl Scout leader, PTA president, room parent volunteer, athletics booster, substitute coach, and wherever else help was needed. She was a volunteer docent at the Institute of Texan Cultures, where she assisted with research on some of the exhibits. She put her performance experience to use by putting together elaborate costumes depicting the various Texas cultures she would talk about in the museum and at schools and community events.
She reveled in her children’s different interests, supporting them however she could, as a practice karate sparring partner, to a timer at a swim meet.
And somehow she found the time to get a private pilots license and take Spanish language classes.
In the late 1980s, with the sale of the auto parts company, Jane and Charles moved to Port Aransas. Together, they opened Bull’s Gym, which became a significant addition to the community. Jane was a Personal Trainer and taught various fitness classes, from step aerobics to Pilates. She also volunteered at the Texas State Aquarium and studied college level marine biology text books to supplement her training.
Then the grandchildren started arriving – eight in total. Jane supported each grandchild’s interests, attending music recitals, sports games, award ceremonies, bat mitzvahs, graduations, and other events. She and Charles loved traveling with their grandchildren, as well.
Jane was drawn back to performing, and joined the Port Aransas Community Theater. She was acting, singing, directing, writing, and fundraising. One of the fundraisers, a fun pin up calendar, received national attention. She was instrumental in helping increase the quantity and quality of the productions and in the effort to establish a permanent building for the company.
Jane and Charles eventually moved back to San Antonio to be closer to family. Jane again became involved in local theater, bringing her many talents to The Rose Theater for several years before retiring.
Jane entered hospice care a few months after losing Charles, her lieutenant, in 2023. She died on July 24, 2026. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Polly; John and Carolyn; Bob and Dana; Becky and Jeff; her eight grandchildren and their spouses and two great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers please consider supporting a local community theater or live music performance and/or making a donation to one of the following:
Muscular Dystrophy Association: https://giving.mda.org
The Children’s Heart Foundation: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org
American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/donate
