Jan Irvine Dean

Jan Irvine Dean – known by her loved ones as “Gran Jan,” entered eternal life September 7 ^th , 2015 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Jan was born on February 18 ^th , 1925 in Jacksonville, Texas – the only child of Jacob and Bess Marie Irvine. She married Thomas Scott Dean, of Sherman, Texas, on June 1 ^st , 1945. Jan was preceded in death by her husband Tom, daughter Tamarie and son, Dixon Lee. She is survived by her son, Thomas Scott Dean Jr. and his wife, Karen, of Stillwater, Oklahoma; her three grandchildren, Kira Frisby, and David Dean and Tamarie Rushin; and her great-granddaughter Stella Frisby.

Jan received both her Bachelors of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Oklahoma State University, where she was a proud member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She taught freshman composition and honors English at both Oklahoma State University and the University of Kansas, where she worked until her retirement.

Three things stand out about Jan, three of her deep loves and passions: Her family. Her Husband. Her imagination. Volunteering and, of course, any and all dogs. Ok so five things, she was an active lover and liver of life! If you knew Jan, you know that any letter or note you have ever sent her, she kept, whether you sent it fifty-years ago or five months ago, because she was a keeper of memories, she lived in those memories, those letters, her journals, especially after Tom died but really throughout her entire life. She was magic with words – living and making every moment on this earth, while doing the same in the world, places and people she held closely to her heart and within her imagination. Jan was a passionate, artistic, creative person. She loved to read, was a self-taught pianist, enjoyed traveling (she was born to see the world), was a published poet, involved in numerous book clubs and writing groups, had two big green thumbs, and her love of dogs was contagious and deep. She volunteered for over 30 years, and was the recipient of the “Volunteer of the Year in the Lifetime Service Category” through her work at Audio Reader, which brought her endless hours of joy.

A memorial service for family and close friends will be held at 10:00 a.m. September 26, 2015 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to KU Audio Reader, P.O. Box 847, Lawrence, KS 66044 or St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 516 W. Third St., Stillwater, OK 74074 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.