Jane Marie Johns

JANE MARIE (HUDSON) JOHNS May 13, 1948 - January 13, 2025

Jane Johns, age 76, passed away on Monday, January 13, 2025, at Legacy of Centerville, Ohio. She was born on May 13, 1948, in Dayton, Ohio, to loving parents Ralph and Mildred (Link) Hudson, who owned two service stations: Hudson's Service, a Phillips 66 station located at Spinning and Burkhardt in Dayton, and Ralph's Shell Service, located off Riverview.

Jane graduated from Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Prior to that she would go to Elder Beerman's department store after school where she would be seen straightening merchandise and rearranging jewelry displays. Her meticulous efforts caught the attention of Arthur Beerman himself. At just 14 years old, with her parents' permission, Jane began working there. During her tenure, she served on the store's Teen Board, organizing fashion shows and other events.

In addition to her work at Elder-Beerman, Jane took a job in the evening at the Air National Guard Base in Springfield, performing office work, filing, and even creating dog tags for soldiers.

As fate would have it, Jane met her first husband, Ken Farst, while working at Elder-Beerman. Ken, a pharmacist who managed all of the Dayton Beerman pharmacy stores for a few years, aspired to own his own drugstore. In 1969, he fulfilled his dream by opening Ken's Pharmacy in Vandalia, Ohio. Jane worked alongside Ken in a modest 1,800-square-foot establishment, often working six to seven days a week from open to close in the beginning. Jane was also active in charity work during this time. She bought a bunny suit and would often be seen at Barney Children's Medical Center-now Dayton Children's-during Easter, bringing joy to the patients.

In the late 1970s, Jane divorced and took a manager job at The Limited. At the time, it was the fourth or fifth store and the first outside of Columbus. Jane's managerial expertise and dedication were instrumental as the store flourished, eventually earning her ownership opportunities at The Limited and other businesses, including Henri Bendel, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and Abercrombie & Fitch, all owned by Les Wexner. Jane would often talk with Les Wexner's mother, Bella Wexner, and they became good friends.

Jane's professional journey led her to management positions at May D&F stores in Denver, Colorado, and later as a manager at the downtown Casual Corner.

Jane's career took a new turn when she became the manager of a hotel in Denver, where she met the love of her life, J. Dee Johns. J. Dee, who was on an extended business trip staying at the hotel, fell in love with Jane. They eventually moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where J. Dee resided.

In Kansas City, Jane found a wonderful team to work with at D. Thomas + Associates. She attended the phones and performed administrative work for several years. Jane held D. Thomas and everyone there in high regard. An avid sports fan, Jane found great joy in the fact that Super Bowl winner Jim Lynch, a former linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, was a partner. It was during this time that Jane earned the nickname "JJ" for Jane Johns.

After J. Dee's passing, Jane returned to Dayton, Ohio, to be closer to her immediate family and spend more time with her grandchildren. Jane never said "no" to watching her grandkids and always had a treat for them when she arrived.

Jane's family would like to say she could be prickly on the outside often but carried a kind and generous heart within. She was devoted to her dog, Tess, loved Elvis Presley, and took pride in her grandchildren's accomplishments. Jane was fiercely competitive on the tennis court, golf course, or dance floor, or impeccably dressed in her thoughtfully curated daily outfits, Jane was unapologetically and uniquely herself.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents Ralph Allen Hudson and Mildred Hudson; her husband, J. Dee Johns; her son, Kenneth Earl Farst II; and her brothers Jim and John Hudson. She is survived by her children: Allen (Amy) Farst and their children, Vail, Von, and Violet; Bradley Farst and his daughter Calia (with Jill George); her siblings Sharon Hudson, Tom (Kathy) Hudson, Ted (Cathy) Hudson and Elizabeth Hudson; as well as her best friend Cathy Nemecek Kelly and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who cherished her deeply.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio; Father Seraphine Lesiriam, C.PP.S., Celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Hospice of Dayton to support people like Jane who benefit from compassionate care.

Jane and her family would like to personally thank Jane's older sister Sharon Hudson for her constant care and loving support of our dear mother over the last several months. She was an unbelievable advocate for Jane's care.

Special thanks are extended to the nurses and technicians who lovingly tended to her needs in her final days. Jane would like to personally thank the Legacy nurses Sylas and Joe along with aides Serenity, Devyn, Kim, Haley, Teria and Renee including Hospice nurses Tina and Penny.

A heartfelt thank you to Father Seraphine of St. Joseph Catholic Church for his unwavering support, comforting presence, and the prayers he so graciously delivered at Jane's bedside.

Jane's legacy is one of perseverance, love, and the enduring power of family. While life reminds us of the fleeting nature of time, Jane's life encourages us to make the most of every moment. Her family fondly recalls her as someone who, despite her imperfections, strove to show up with love and kindness. Let her story inspire us to embrace the time we have and cherish those who mean the most.