Janice McLean Watson

It is with profound sadness that the family of Janice McLean Watson announces her passing Tuesday, February 18, 2025. She died peacefully at the Medina Hospital in Medina with her family by her side. She was 92. Preceded in death by her husband, James Horace Watson. Janice leaves behind her two beloved sons, Jim (Sheryl) and John (Jean); and three precious grandchildren, Josh (Heather), Elise (Matt), and Luke. She was a stepmother to Shawn and Sharon; granddaughter, Crista; and great-granddaughter, Syd. Janice was born in Smiths Station, Alabama on June 16, 1932, the third of eleven children to John and Cariwyl McLean. She completed a master's degree at the University of Tennessee in 1958 and immediately started a life-long career in social work. She lived across the United States and Canada before eventually setting more permanent roots in Lafayette, Indiana where she worked with Wabash Valley Mental Health and the Indiana Veterans Home, served as a CASA volunteer, and was a regular at the YMCA. A loving and devoted mother and grandmother, Janice valued family above all. But she was deeply compassionate, embrace diversity and inclusivity and was a devoted friend and colleague. Her kindness and empathy was celebrated by anyone fortunate enough to know her. In her retirement, she maintained an active lifestyle through church, volunteering, exercising, travelling, and spending time with family as she could. She enjoyed keeping up with current affairs and had a great affinity for reading news from Canada. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 21, 2025 in Zion Lutheran Church, Valley City, Ohio. There will be time to visit with the family from 10 to 11 a.m., and a luncheon to Zion following the service. In Lafayette, a graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, July 5, 2025 in Rest Haven Memorial Park. In honor of Janice's love of life, kindness, and growing things, donations may be made to a community garden or similar project in your area. The Bauer Funeral Home, Valley City, Ohio has the honor of serving Janice's family.