Janet Cecilia Garton

Jan Garton, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, at the age of 80. She left this world surrounded by the love she so generously gave throughout her life.

Jan was the kind of woman who made everyone feel welcome and there was no better place to feel it than at one of her gatherings. She had a true gift for hosting, throwing parties and events that brought people together and filled her home with laughter, good food, and warmth. Cooking was one of her great joys, and she poured love into every meal she made, treating her kitchen as the heart of the home and her table as a place where everyone belonged.

In 1981, Jan and her husband Doug moved with their only child, Kimberly, to Fort Myers to escape the cold Missouri winters. Florida became home, and it was there that the two of them built a life together in every sense including founding their successful business, Garton Enterprises. What began in the 1980s grew and thrived through the 2010s, a lasting testament to their hard work, partnership, and shared determination. Through it all, Jan poured her heart into her family including spending time with her grandchildren, moments she cherished above almost all else. She had a gift for making ordinary times feel like treasures, and those who knew her remember her warmth, her generous heart, and her unwavering devotion to the people she loved.

A devoted member of the Delta Alpha Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Jan cherished the friendships and sisterhood she found there for many years. As a lifetime member, she gave her time and heart to the organization, and she proudly achieved the Torchbearer degree, a testament to her dedication, service, and the lasting bonds she formed along the way.

Jan's memory will continue to live on in the hearts of those who loved her. She is survived by her husband, Doug Garton, her partner of 58 years of marriage; her daughter, Kimberly Powers; her grandsons, Quentin (Kelly) Powers and Nathan (Jennifer) Powers; and her great-grandsons, Kendall Reding (4 years) and Kai Paul Powers (9 months).

A celebration of Jan's life will be held on May 23rd at Bonita Fish Company. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you to squeeze your loved ones a little harder when you hug them next.

She may be gone from our sight, but she will live forever in the warmth of our memories and the love she planted in each of us.

She will be interred as St. Mark’s cemetery in Strafford, CT. Rest peacefully, Jan. You are and will always be, dearly missed and loved.