Janet Arlene Naylor

She was born to Robert and Marie Naylor on November 5, 1946, in Emporia, Kansas. Throughout her life, she brought joy to her family and friends and lived a rich and fulfilling life.

Jan spent her early years on a farm north of Gridley, Kansas, where she attended Gridley Grade School. Being left-handed, she was fortunate to have a left-handed teacher who taught her to write beautifully in cursive. On the farm, some of the activities in which Janet would participate included gathering eggs, riding on a hay baler to ensure the bales were properly tied, and hanging clothes on an outside clothesline. During her early years until about age 5-6, her home had no indoor plumbing and a coal/woodburning furnace for natural draft heat. The Naylor family later moved to Burlington, Kansas, where Janet graduated from Burlington High School in 1964. She had many friends, enjoyed an active social life, played the flute in the school band, and developed a strong interest in bookkeeping.

After high school, she enrolled at Kansas State University and later transferred to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she earned her accounting degree in 1973. Jan became a Certified Public Accountant in 1975 and began working as a CPA for Fox, Westheimer, and Company in Kansas City, Missouri. She was highly regarded at the firm for her strong work ethic, accuracy, and willingness to work exceedingly long hours, particularly during tax season. Her left-handedness gave her a unique advantage, allowing her to use a ten-key with her right hand and a pencil with her left.

While working in Kansas City, Jan met Cecil "Corky" Lewis, who worked in a nearby office building. They married in 1978 and moved to Lakewood, Lee's Summit, Missouri. Jan became a devoted stepmother to Corky's two sons, Darrel and Bryan, whom she lovingly raised as her own. The couple later left their jobs to start a computer software development company, Lewis and Associates, which they successfully operated for many years.

Together, Jan and Corky enjoyed outdoor activities such as tennis, biking, wilderness camping, and river canoeing across Missouri, Arkansas, and the Florida Everglades. They also spent several weeks exploring the rainforests of Belize and the Amazon River Basin.

Above all, Jan cherished her family. In addition to being a loving stepmother, she was affectionately known as “Aunt Jan” to her many nieces and nephews. Jan was also a devoted grandmother and affectionately known as “Grandma Jan” to her three granddaughters, Ashley, Sophia, and Madelyn, and her only grandson, Sean. She loved hosting family holiday dinners and summer picnics by the pool. Jan especially enjoyed spending time playing games, shopping, and watching movies with her grandchildren. She indulged them in every interest and supported them in every way, never missing any of their extracurricular activities. A natural teacher, Jan was delighted to share her cooking and sewing skills with her granddaughters. Over the past few years, she has been thrilled to see her three great-grandchildren enter this world and especially cherished the time she shared with them this past Christmas.

After Jan and Corky divorced in 2007, Jan went to work for Midland Properties in Mission Woods, Kansas, and later Macy in Leawood, Kansas. She lived a vibrant and healthy life at her home in the Town Village of Leawood, where she enjoyed socializing and exercising with her many wonderful friends and watching her favorite sports teams, the Royals, Chiefs, and Kansas State Wildcats.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Marie Naylor, and her ex-husband, Corky Lewis. She is survived by her sister Karen (Earl) Truelove, brother Don (Trudy) Naylor, and stepsons Darrel (Robin) Lewis and Bryan Lewis. She also has grandchildren Ashley (Matt) Johnson, Sophia, Madelyn, and Sean Lewis, three great-grandchildren, 15 nieces and nephews, and 18 great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Life will be held for Jan in the Leawood Room of the Town Village of Leawood on Saturday, January 18th, from 10:30 to 12:30. There will be another celebration to be held in her hometown of Burlington, Kansas, at a later date to be announced.