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Janet Susan Beaver
June 23, 1955 – May 3, 2023
Janet Susan Beaver (1955-2023)
Janet Susan Beaver (1955-2023)

Janet Susan Beaver


June 23, 1955 – May 3, 2023


Janet Susan Beaver passed away peacefully at home on May 3, 2023 at the age of 67. Janet was born in Modesto on June 23, 1955 to the late Art and Elsie Courtrell.

She leaves behind her husband Steve Beaver; her sons, Kyle (wife Christy) Crow, and Joshua Rowton; two stepdaughters, Amy (husband Steve) Peterman and Libby (husband Josh) Callahan; two sisters, Jeri Fergel and Virginia McElroy, and known to them as Lama; and 12 grandchildren, Shawn and Austin Crow, Lily Crow, Scarlett and Lane Rowton, Kaydee and Allie Peterman, Clinton, Matthew and Molly Holmes and Liam and Elijah Callahan. Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by son Shawn Crow and daughter-in-law Whitney Rowton.

Janet graduated from Downey High School in 1973 and spent her entire life in Modesto. Janet loved people. Whether she knew you or not, once introduced, she always greeted you with one of her patented hugs. She had a personality like no one else. She was small but mighty and could be a little fireball at times. However, she is best described as having a vivacious personality that was contagious. She had a great sense of humor, was highly spirited, fun-loving and often would become the life of the party. She was a fantastic dancer and absolutely loved music. She was a loving, devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

If someone was in need, she would drop what she was doing no matter what time of day or night to assist. She did this many times over the years, including several times in the middle of the night.

Straight out of high school one of her favorite jobs was her very first as a waitress at Happy Steak on McHenry Avenue. She said she just loved this job and especially her regulars. She then decided she wanted to go to work at Save Mart. She went every Wednesday the day Save Mart interviewed potential new employees. After several weekly visits, she finally told them, “I will be back every week until you hire me because I am going to work for Save Mart.” That is an example of the persistence that she demonstrated her entire life. She worked at Save Mart for 11 years before going into real estate. She worked for Century 21 until she retired in 2005. She also volunteered as a “pink lady” at Memorial Hospital for a number of years as well as volunteering in her granddaughter’s classroom.

She first met Steve Beaver at Save Mart in 1983. They had remained friends until their relationship got serious in 2003. They were married in South Lake Tahoe on April 24, 2004. They have been best friends since that day and spent most of their time the past 12 years enjoying retired life together.

Whether it be flying to a vacation destination, traveling with friends, going boating on the lake, spending time at their cabin, taking off in their RV or enjoying a new movie almost every week, Janet truly loved her life. She was ready to go anywhere at the drop of a hat. She also loved just spending time hanging out at home. She was blessed to have some great times with so many close friends, and she looked forward to backyard barbeques and celebrating holidays with her family. She absolutely loved her amazing grandchildren and often picked them up to spend the day with them. She’ll have a special place in our hearts forever.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20 at the Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres followed by lunch. For those planning to attend, we thank you for emailing how many are in your party to janetbeavercelebrationoflife@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Janet to the Stanislaus County Alzheimer’s Dementia Support Center, 700 McHenry Avenue B, Modesto CA 95350; or to Seva Hospice, 5380 Pirrone Road, Suite 301A, Salida CA 95368.


–Ceres (Calif.) Courier

Wednesday, May 17, 2023