Janet Rae Ford

Janet Rae Ford of Cape Canaveral, Florida, formerly of Lansing, Michigan, passed away on Monday, July 25. Jan was born August 10, 1940, in Lansing to Dorothy and Larry DeYoung. She had fond childhood memories of time spent at the family cottage on Crooked Lake in Clare County, and enjoyed growing up in Lansing among good friends and family. She graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in 1958 and went on to work for the State of Michigan for nearly 40 years, where she served and excelled in several departments and retired with an accomplished career. Jan’s children were the center of her world, and she began her role as a mother when she and her first husband William Thomas had their son Todd. She loved being a mother and wife so much that she did it again, marrying John Ross and having three more children, Tracey, Brett and Eric. As her family grew, she learned to enjoy the many pranks, jokes and antics of her kids in their East Lansing home, and she joked that she spent much of her time trying (unsuccessfully) to keep them from needing too many stitches. It was in 1980 that Jan met the love of her life, Judd Ford. Jan and Judd lived an incredible life together. They shared a mutual love of dancing, and stole the show on many a dancefloor over the years. They both had a love of being on the water, and spent Michigan summers on their boat before deciding to move to Florida for a year-round life with views of the Banana River and the Atlantic Ocean. She loved sunsets, her sweet dogs, and meeting new people. She delighted in making connections with strangers in line at the bank, at the mall, or on the beach. There is no doubt that everyone on the planet is just six degrees of separation from Jan Ford, and she brought joy to all who interacted with her. She was a survivor of many trials, and credits Alcoholics Anonymous with changing her life. She was proud to have achieved over 40 years of sobriety. Jan is survived by her children, Todd (Laura) Ross of Haslett, Michigan, Tracey Ross of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Brett (Malissa) Ross of Jenison, Michigan and Eric Ross of Cape Canaveral, Florida, her grandchildren Duncan, T.J., Ashton, Teague and Keaton, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and soul mate Judd Ford and her beloved sister Diane Barnes. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date, and those who wish can make a gift in Jan’s name to their local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter or their local Humane Society.