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Jane Markham Abel was born on January 9, 1920, in Tacoma, Washington. She graduated from Centralia High School in 1937 before attending the University of Washington, where she was President of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority until her graduation in 1941. In March 1942, Jane Markham married Don G. Abel. The couple had three children: Steve, Shelley, and Bruce.

Jane Abel was active in numerous civic organizations throughout her lifetime. She was involved with the AK Chapter of P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Lillian Delanty Orthopedic Auxiliary, the Young Mother's Club, the Mountlake PTA, and numerous other social and philanthropic organizations in both Aberdeen and Seattle. She also served on the board of the Seattle Opera and the Salvation Army, was a volunteer at the Puget Sound Blood Bank and with the Visiting Nurse Service, and was an active member of the Seattle Tennis Club. Jane Markham Abel died on July 20, 2010.

Don Abel was born in Chehalis, Washington, in 1920 to parents Marion Ross and Don Abel. He attended Chehalis High School prior to moving to Seattle with his family, where he graduated from Garfield High School in 1938. He then enrolled at the University of Washington. Following his graduation in 1941, he began studying at the University of Washington School of Law until he enlisted in the Army during World War II. He served for three years in the Quartermaster Corps of the Army in Saipan, where he and Jane also lived for a short period after the war. Upon their return to Seattle, Don resumed his studies in law school and graduated in 1948.

Following Don's graduation from law school, the Abels moved to Aberdeen, Washington, where Don worked as a prosecuting attorney from 1948 to 1954. Don then took a position in private practice in Seattle. In addition to his law career, Don was also involved in many civic affairs throughout his lifetime, and served as President of the Metropolitan Democratic Club, President of the Municipal League, President of the World Affairs Council, President of the English Speaking Union, and Scout Master for the Cub Scouts. He also served as a board member of the Arboretum Foundation and the Puget Sound Blood Bank. Don Abel died on December 13, 2008.

Jane Abel's father, John Howard Markham, was born in 1892 in Wisconsin. He moved with his family to Washington in 1899. Markham served in the Army during both World Wars and was a forest engineer responsible for preparing maps and surveys. He also served as one of the principle business partners in the Markham & Callow Logging Company in northern Oregon. John Markham was also an avid hunter and fisher and owned land in British Columbia and Oregon. He traveled to India and other exotic locales in pursuit of large game trophies, such as tigers, bears, and other wildlife. He played basketball and football in high school and joined the football team at the University of Washington in the early 1910s.

Jane Abel's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Young, were early pioneers in Washington state and helped to found the town of Aberdeen. Their early contributions have been honored with the naming of Alexander Young Elementary School in Aberdeen. Their daughter, Grace Mary Young, married John Howard Markham in 1918.