Jan B Carroll

Just two days shy of her 89 ½ "birthday," Jan B. Caroll was called to her heavenly home on May 14, 2024. During her tenure, she was able to fill those almost nine decades with laughter, tears, adventures, and best of all, love. The tapestry she knit together during that time was chock full of stories, and her beginning was no different.
Born on November 16, 1934, in Enfield, Illinois, Jan joined the world as Donna Janell Krug to John and Eleanor Krug. Unfortunately, after Eleanor's untimely death when Janell was quite young, Janell and her sisters (Rajeane and Wyonna) were taken in by local families, and her two brothers (Neal and Kendall) stayed with their father. Janell was taken in by Mark and Edna Benham, a local couple who later adopted her as a 17th birthday present. Jan changed her name many times throughout her life, but even from a young age she began learning to leave her mark on the world. She nurtured a love of animals that began from an early age, as evidenced by stories she shared of her beloved German Shepherd Beau, a constant childhood companion. She later had Tony the Pony join her ranks, and even though he tried to clothesline her any chance he got, she still never lost her love of all animals (aside from the slithery kind – those would get her to jump to the ceiling if they were anywhere close).
Jan attended high school in Enfield where she was quite a musician. She loved to play the piano, and she played the clarinet for the school band. At one point in time in high school, she randomly switched from playing the clarinet to playing the flute for a competition and did surprisingly well. Upon high school graduation, she then attended some college at Murray State in Kentucky. While she did not finish a degree there, she later attended business school where she learned shorthand and became a secretary. This was a skill that served her extremely well for the rest of her business career.
Once she established herself in the business world, a fabulous feat considering after her divorce she was a single mother in the 1950s, she met the love of her life, Ed Carroll. Jan and Ed remained steady for a few years, and on May 24, 1963, they married at a small ceremony with just the preacher, his wife, and Cynthia (Jan's daughter whom Ed would later adopt on her 21st birthday) as witnesses. This blessed union made it just shy of 61 years and it was full of love, laughter, cross country moves, and travel. The travel bug bit Jan hard, making her always excited for the next adventure. Some of her fondest memories included a safari in Africa, an Alaskan cruise, and dancing across Europe. As she always told it, she and Ed danced their way around the world, including taking the stage at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
With a loving spirit and joy in celebrations, Jan always held a huge portion of her heart for Christmas because it was her absolute favorite holiday. She LOVED to deck the halls with decorations, at least two Christmas trees, and all the Santas one could handle. She would set up a ceramic Christmas village her daughter painted her. Also, each year for several years, Ed would get Jan a little Snow Baby figurine and she gathered quite the collection. Her love language was gift giving and showering all of her loved ones with so many Christmas presents that they lost count.
Jan became a grandma in December 1985 when Sara was born, and then again in October 1987 when Michael was born. Jan was the most devoted of grandmas who would record herself reading stories and then mail them across the country to both Sara and Michael. She wanted her grandchildren to know how much she loved them and would do whatever she could to be part of their lives. She volunteered with Sara's Girl Scout troop, read books to students in Michael's classes, and cooked the most delicious food and baked goods. Everyone treasured the time spent together in Texas, and even when they moved to Montana, she found ways to be part of both her daughter's and grandchildren's lives. She surprised them for their major life events like graduations and weddings. Additionally, she was a delighted great-grandma to Peyton, Gabriel, and Daniel.
Aside from loving spending time tending her beautiful lawn and flower gardens, Jan enjoyed knitting, playing board and card games, and putting together puzzles. Jan was always one for efficiency and trying to "purge" material items out of her life at random intervals. Although, some of her biggest treasures were the handwritten cards and letters people she loved most had written to her over the years. She saved all the correspondence between her and Ed, as well as letters from her daughter and grandchildren. She tried to portray herself as not quite sentimental, but the truth came out after she left us, and it warmed everyone's heart.
She was preceded in death by her biological parents, John and Eleanor Krug; her adopted parents, Mark and Edna Benham; as well as her brothers Neal and Kendall, and her sister Rajeane.
Jan is survived by her husband Henry "Ed" Carroll; daughter Cynthia (Johnny) Walker; granddaughter Sara (Ryan) Belke; grandson, Michael Walker; and great grandsons Peyton, Gabriel, and Daniel.
Services to celebrate Jan's life will be held on May 31, 2024. Visitation will occur from 1 PM – 3 PM at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home. Family and close friends can attend a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery in Republic, Missouri at 3:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking anyone interested to make donations to their local no-kill animal shelters or rescue organizations.
Care has been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home DeGraffenreid-Wood Crematory.