Janet Starkey

May 25, 1942 - March 25, 2017

Janet Starkey of Corvallis passed away at home on March 25, 2017, after a 12-year battle with Parkinson's disease. She fought the disease to the end with her trademark determination and strength. She served as an inspiration to many facing similar adversity. 

Janet was born May 25, 1942, in Wendell, Idaho, to Delbert and Oma Hall. She grew up on the family farm and ranch in Southern Idaho where she developed her strong sense of independence. A sure way to be proven wrong was to tell Janet she couldn't do something. She enjoyed participating in sports, 4-H and rodeo activities with her horse Taffy.   

Janet left the family farm for Caldwell, Idaho, and the College of Idaho. Eventually, she earned a master's degree in education from the University of Idaho. She started her teaching career in Siletz where she met her husband, Edward Starkey, when they were both hired for the same teaching position. After sorting out teaching assignments, they were eventually married June 10, 1967. 

Janet continued to teach as Ed earned his doctorate from Washington State University and they soon settled in Corvallis to raise their family, which included a daughter, Kirsten, and son J.J.

After making her family a priority for many years, Janet became a program manager with Oregon State University Extension Services. In this role, she led the 4-H program at the Oregon State Fair for 18 years. Through leading by example, she was a role model for co-workers and friends throughout the state.

In her spare time, Janet's favorite hobby was raising purebred show cattle and sheep.   This carried over into her role as a Benton County 4-H leader for many years. In this capacity, she was able to positively impact hundreds of local families by combining her love of raising livestock with her favorite pastime of working with kids.  She was a steady presence in the livestock barns and around the show ring for several generations of 4-H participants. In recognition of her contributions to 4-H, she was honored to be inducted into the Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame. 

Perhaps her greatest legacy is the difference she made in the lives of countless children and youth. Through coaching, counseling and motivating, she dedicated herself to helping those who needed a tireless advocate. She spent many hours being a stable presence for and mentoring the kids in her life. She offered a safe haven for any youth needing support and enjoyed watching "her kids" become happy, successful adults. If Janet called you a "brat," you knew you were in a special circle of people. She was a role model for many and friends and family alike will miss her sense of humor, feistiness and larger than life presence. 

A memorial service for Janet will be at 1 p.m. June 11 at the Benton County Fairgrounds-Floral Courtyard. Please join family and friends as they celebrate shared adventures and memorable moments.