Janet Elizabeth Scott Elder

Janet Elizabeth Scott Elder, 77, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, passed away peacefully at her home
surrounded by her loving family on October 31, 2025.
She was born on February 17, 1948, in Bluefield, West Virginia, the daughter of the late Dr.
Charles Morton Scott and Frances Walker Scott. Janet dedicated her life to helping others,
retiring from a long and fulfilling career in social work.
Janet was no ordinary social worker-far from it in fact. She radiated a warmth of safety to
those she assisted and loved. Within her web of kindness, others-otherwise stymied in their
endeavors-were finally allowed to flourish. Even when you felt unlovable, she could make you
feel loved-a gift that is immeasurable. Her helping hand was eternal, her grace immutable, and
love unconditional.
For many their work is obligatory, for Janet it was a vocational calling to change the world one
person at a time. Certainly an endeavor that we should all aspire to and a tradition we should
carry out with the spirit that Janet did.
Beyond her professional life, Janet cherished spending time with her family. She found joy in
simple pleasures-reading a good book, tending to her garden, knitting beautiful pieces for loved
ones, shopping for little treasures, and creating stunning stained glass art.
With her garden, Janet brought two things together that she cherished: nature and animals. Her
love for animals was legendary-at one point having roughly 22 German shepherds. The
German Shepherd dog holds a special place in the family with her sister Alice her shepherd
Bear, her nephew Chardie and his shepherd Otto, and her nephew Matthew with his shepherds
Kane and Thor.
In her garden, furthermore, Janet experienced the profound juxtaposition of life-the joy of
cherishing something she both held and could not control. She cultivated what would flourish,
coaxing beautiful colors from the soil with both spade and hand, much as she cared for in her
social work. The garden was a quiet and fitting metaphor for her belief that with patience,
attention, and love, even the most irascible soil could transform into a beautiful constellation of
colors.
Janet's creativity was as remarkable as her compassion for others. She poured her heart into
every knitted piece for the next generation in the form of baby hats and sacks. Her stunning
stained glass pieces captured both light and her spirit alike. Through her art as in life, she
brought color, creativity, beauty, and love to all around her.
Janet's presence in this world was a gift-her love, creativity, and rapier wit and merciless sense
of humor will be deeply missed, but forever cherished by those fortunate enough to know her.
She died as she lived: loving her family with her whole heart and her family likewise with theirs.
In addition to her parents, Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Randolph Elder. She is
survived by her son, Randolph Wade Elder; sister, Alice Bryant (Jeff); brothers, Dr. Charles
Matthew Scott II (Linda), William Wade Walker Scott (Anne); nieces, Melissa Farnsley (Terry),
Dr. Sarah Scott Fox (Ryland), Kelly Franklin (Tony), Wendy Crosby (Drew); nephews, Scott
Richards (Crystal), Charles Matthew Scott III, Read Scott, Charles Mason Scott (Brittany); along
with great nieces and nephews, Beatrix Franklin, Frances Fox, Miller Scott, Parker Scott, Dylan
Richards, Brayden Richards, Dow O'Neal IV, Allie Staples (Jess), Chase Farnsley and Drew
Farnsley, Lowen Staples.
There will be a visitation held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 4-8pm at Legacy Funeral
Center, 921 Main Street, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to daretocare.org
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