Janice S. Baskey

Janice S. (Schulz) Baskey, age 99+, fulfilling her wish not to live to be 100, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

As did the queen, she had two birthdays. Her actual birthday was on July 15, 1923, but the doctor, in his infinite wisdom, didn’t think she would live. Three days later, he found out he was wrong and filled out the birth certificate, so the “official, legally” recognized birthday was July 18, 1923.

She was born in Rocky River, a daughter of Herman Peter and Helen Crocker Ford Schulz, and lived in Lakewood until her marriage. She attended Lakewood Schools, roller skated in the second largest roller dome in the world, liked to fish with the youngsters, ice skate and generally had an average life as an only child.

Mom enjoyed doing and teaching embroidery and knitting. She was a longtime member of Old South Church in Kirtland many years ago, where she also taught Sunday School. She kept herself busy as a domestic engineer, bridge player, part-time worker at the Mentor Public Library, member of The Order of the Eastern Star, traveler, bowler, mother of three children and wife of one very busy husband.

She attended Ohio University in Athens, however, love got in the way. She met her lifelong partner, Robert Baskey, and they were married on October 28, 1943, celebrating 58 years together before his passing in 2002. They settled in Kirtland, on Sperry Road and later moved around the corner to Route 6. In 1976, Jan and Bob took a leap, and bought a farm in Ashtabula County and moved there in retirement, where they would remain until their death. She outlived almost every one of her close friends.

One of her greatest joys was her family, that includes her children, Cheryl (Joe) Petro, James (Barb) Baskey and Sandy (Ken) Clark; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 11 AM until 1 PM on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, 4154 Clark Avenue, Willoughby, where services will be held at 1 PM. Final resting place will be in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township following the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to The Old South Church, 9802 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094 or the Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, OH 44094.