Jan Hess

Jan Hess

FERRON- Janet (Jan) Keim Hess, 77, passed away in Ferron, Utah on January 13, 2026.

Jan was born on December 4, 1948, in Ainsworth, Nebraska during a very bad blizzard. Her Dad had to pull the car with the farm tractor on top of the crusted snow while her mom steered the car until they made it to the main road; then her dad took over driving the car with Jan's mom and older brother to the hospital in Ainsworth.

After her dad sold the farm, they moved to Bassett, Nebraska for a short time until her Dad got the wild idea to head for California but ran out of money in Provo, Utah. He found a job the day after getting to Provo and fell in love with the area. He saved up enough money to go back to Basset to bring Lucy, Dave, and Jan to Provo. They lived as a family for a few years, but later Jan's parents divorced. Dave and Jan lived with their mom in Springville and Dave was dating Red's sister; that's where Red and Jan's love story began. They were the love of each other's lives. Jan married Red in Springville, Utah in August of 1966, and they shared many adventures traveling where Red's work took them until they finally found their forever home in Ferron, Utah in 1975.

Jan had two sons, Kelly and Jerry that she was very proud of. She worked hard as a homemaker to raise the boys, and in 1986, took on what was going to be a part-time, short-term job as an Avon Lady selling door to door to earn enough money to purchase some new furniture. She did get her furniture and continued to sell Avon for well over 30 years; she loved visiting with her customers and seeing them on a regular basis.

She always had the inside story on her boys' shenanigans, and the boys were certain it was that darn little birdie on the Avon route that told their secrets. Jan loved the outdoors; going camping, boating, and 4-wheeler rides along with raising a home garden and bottling the fruits of her and Red's labors. She was a proud patriot and selflessly devoted many days to the support projects with the American Legion Post 42 Auxiliary. She was proud of her roots of Nebraska and loved carrying traditions from both her and Red's families. She had a deep devotion for being a wife, a mom, a grandmother, and a care giver to her family and friends. Jan and her sense of humor will be missed along with the sass she occasionally delt out.

Jan is survived by her two sons, Kelly (Lori) Hess of Pueblo, Colorado and Jerry (Kandi) Hess of Rock Springs, Wyoming; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Jan was preceded in death by her best friend and loving husband, Red, "with 55 good years of marriage" (Red's quote); her father, Dale Keim; her mother, Lucy Keim; and her brother, Dave (Sprocket) Keim.

The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all the friends that have looked in on mom since the passing of Dad; especially Steve and Ruth Kimple, also the staff at the San Rafael Care Center for the last couple of months of our mothers' life.

Graveside Services for Jan will take place on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the Ferron City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the cemetery from 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Jan online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net