Janet Elder Ross was called to her eternal home in Christ on September 20, 2023. Janet was born in Caldwell, Kansas on July 19, 1934, to Fleece and Harriet Elder. She is survived by her daughters Sarah Ross Clinkscales, Susan Ross Smith (husband Steven), and Pamela Ross Krueger, grandchildren Timothy Clinkscales, Valerie Cavenaugh (husband John), Lydia Pearce (husband Stephen), Charles Clinkscales, Colin Smith, Corinna Smith, Ross Krueger (wife Kate), and Kristin Krueger as well as greatgrandchildren Hanna Clinkscales, Amara Clinkscales, Savannah Cavenaugh, and Tobias Krueger.

Janet moved to Houston, Texas with her parents and younger brother Ed Elder when she was in first grade. As a young girl, Janet learned to play the accordion and performed in accordion bands for a number of events. She also participated in competitive archery in high school and was ranked second in the city of Houston. Janet also loved to swim and became a swim instructor at the YWCA while still in high school. Janet met Charles (Charlie) Ross at the YWCA, and they were married on June 21, 1952. Charlie joined the Navy Reserve in April 1952, entered active duty in March 1956, and was deployed to Japan where he served as a radio operator on a submarine. Janet joined him in Japan, with daughter Sarah, for several years, then they all returned to Houston in 1959. With the addition of Susan and Pam, the family was complete and Janet and Charlie decided to move to Magnolia.

Janet was very artistic in many ways – including cake decorating, ceramics, tatting, crocheting, knitting, quilting, and painting. Janet was a Girl Scout leader while the girls were growing up, teaching all of them and their friends about sewing, camping, cooking, swimming, archery and anything else the girls expressed interest in trying. Janet became Charlie's assistant beekeeper for several years during which they had a booth at the Renaissance Festival as the Queen's Beekeeper (1989 to 1994), teaching people about bees (with an observation hive), and selling honey and ceramic items. After retiring, Janet and Charlie both took up weaving, continuing to explore her artistic abilities, and exhibited the art of weaving through demonstrations at various events, libraries, and schools.

Janet loved her 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren immensely. She taught all 8 of the grandchildren how to cook – from simple soups to homemade pies and apple dumplings.

Janet will be missed very much by her family and friends – but we know she is at peace and has finally joined Charlie in heaven, where we will see them again.

Instead of flowers, the family would prefer donations to Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse (see www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/ways-to-give).