Janet Elinor Keogan Blake

Janet Blake, 79, passed away Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at Trinity Nursing & Rehab in Merriam, Kansas. Visitation was Saturday, October 22, with funeral immediately following at Harris Funeral Home, Roscoe, New York. Burial in BonAire Cemetery. A celebratory Mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday, October 28, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Janet was born to James and Maude Keogan on March 6, 1926 in Roscoe, NY. She graduated from Roscoe Central High School in 1943 and moved to New York, New Jersey metropolitan area working for Wright Aeronautical. She spent a brief time in Florida working in the restaurant business before moving back to Roscoe to marry Henry Blake in 1953. In 1957, she took over the family restaurant business at Tennanah Lake when her father became ill. Janet was an active member of the United Church of Roscoe. She was recognized as a civic leader, serving on innumerable boards and holding positions within the township and county. In 1972, she was appointed as Deputy County Clerk for Sullivan County and then was elected as Commissioner of Jurors in 1976. She held this position until her retirement in 1985. At that time, she moved to Punta Gorda, Florida. Janet lived among her best friends and had the time of her life on Olive Circle. She was involved in various organizations there including the Charlotte County Republican Women, the Arthritis Foundation of S.W. Florida, the Punta Gorda Civic Assoc. and was a member of the United Congregational Church of Punta Gorda. Poor health necessitated a move to Kansas City in 1997 to be closer to her family where she resided at Bishop Spencer Place for 5 years before moving to Trinity Lutheran Manor in 2002. She continued to be a very active member of both of these communities and was involved in resident councils and food committee meetings as well as serving on the altar guild. Janet will be remembered as a friend to all, opening her home to neighbors in need, able to whip up a massive celebration at a moments notice, always with the quick comeback joke, and with a mind that remained sharp until the end. She will be missed by many. Janet is survived by her daughter Joy Blake-Krug, her son-in-law, Dr. Paul Krug and two grandchildren, Colin James and Caitlin Elizabeth Krug. Donations in her honor may be made to the Bishop Spencer Place Benevolent Care Fund, 816-931-4277, Odyssey Hospice Care of Kansas City, 816333-1980, or the Roscoe Free Library in Roscoe, New York 12776.