Janet Sue Ward, born Jan. 12, 1940, in West Point Marion, Pa. to Helen Blanche Connell and Carl Mortimer Davis, passed peacefully on May 12, 2024, in Portland, Ore.
Her coal-mining father Carl was industrious enough to escape to a job in the auto industry and relocate his family to Detroit. She grew up with older brother, Gene and sister, Shirley and younger brother, Larry and sister, Bette in a small house on Victor in Roseville.
After high school, she married Lee Allen Ward, a U.S. Marine. Janet gave birth to two sons, Michael and Steven, whom she raised from ages four and five as a single mother working as an administrative assistant. After they left for college, where both became computer engineers, she quit smoking, received her associates degree and found her life-long companion, Leroy Gogolin. She and Lee had many adventures together, even after his stroke and rehabilitation, for many years. She loved antiquing, desserts, and being a night owl, and would often talk about her adventurous youth and fond memories with family members and friends. Eventually, she contracted Alzheimer’s disease but had an enjoyable year and a half visiting her son Mike in Portland, Ore. She passed peacefully, about a month after a sudden stroke.
She leaves behind her sons, Mike and Steve and granddaughter, Elizabeth.
As per her wishes, she will be cremated without ceremony, and her ashes spread by her sons. She would say she had a wonderful life due to her family, many friends, and many adventures.
