Janice Ruth Merritt

Jan Merritt, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2025, at the age of 82. She was born on September 10, 1943, in Arma, Kansas (population 1,400) the middle of seven siblings. Jan was preceded in life by her sisters Beverly, Sheryl, and Pat, and is survived by her sister Kay, brothers Jerry and Robert, her son Eric, and her cherished granddaughters Sophia and Sabine.

Jan worked for more than 20 years with the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka, Kansas, and California. Her second career was in vintage furnishings and décor, working in Austin, Texas, and later on several labors of love in San Diego, where she quickly made lasting friendships with her colleagues. She had a natural eye for decorating and a distinct personal style- both at work and at home and delighted in transforming spaces, indoors and out, with charm and personality.

Jan also enjoyed a passion for gardening and had a true green thumb. Her home and landscaping were featured in the La Jolla Village Home and Garden Club periodical. She loved decorating her home, and her walls likely wore twenty coats of paint over the years, along with countless reupholsteries and slipcovers, all brushed, sewn, and applied by her own hand.

Jan was a talented and energetic holiday host. She joyfully prepared for every season, adorning her home for Christmas and Thanksgiving, but went all out for Halloween with elaborate spooky decorations, even transforming her garage and entryway into a haunted house for her grandchildren, thrilling (dare we admit even scaring) both children and adults.

A devoted grandmother, Jan was a constant presence in her granddaughters’ lives. Wednesdays were “Grandma’s Night,” filled with fun projects, bedtime stories, and Thursday morning crepes. She volunteered at their schools, signed them up for swimming and karate lessons to build confidence and self-discipline, and cheered them on enthusiastically at club and high school sports events.

A gifted home chef, Jan’s kitchen was a place of joy and connection. Whether preparing an elegant formal dinner or hosting a relaxed evening of comfort food favorites, she approached every meal with warmth, creativity, and a sense of celebration. Her desserts were especially treasured by her family. Being her nature, she spent many of her final days she had the strength to in the kitchen baking treats to be enjoyed and remembered.

Jan’s spirit, energy, and countless acts of service and kindness brought beauty, joy, and love into the lives of all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held at her home, 2655 Loring Street, on Saturday, November 22, 2025.