Janet "Jan" Lee Ransome Simonson, a woman of deep faith, passes away January 11

Her devotion to family, friends and her firm belief in God supported her through life and ultimately gave her peace. Jan was the only child born to Wayne Stillman and Virginia Jane Lee Ransome in Seattle, Washington, on September 25, 1931.

Jan was raised in the Seattle area, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1949, with aspirations to be a journalist. After graduation, Jan moved with her parents to a small lakefront cabin on Hicks Lake in Lacey, Washington, where Jan had spent her summers growing up.

Jan was working for an insurance company when she met John William Simonson who had just finished four years in the Navy and was living with his parents in Union Mills, an area near Lacey. John asked Jan if she wanted to play pinochle with others, which led to the alter three months later on November 22, 1950, in Olympia, Washington. One year later on November 29th, son John Lee was born, and they subsequently moved to Chicago for work. In August of 1953 they moved back to Olympia as John reenlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Sand Point, Seattle where on December 28, 1953, David Mark was born. A new duty station brought the young family to San Diego where on September 2, 1956, Robert Alan was born. A new duty station took the family to Alameda, California, where Jody Wayne was born on October 16, 1958, and the family of four boys was now complete. 

Orders to a new ship brought the family back to San Diego and, in August 1961, they moved into a new home which the family would call home for the next fourteen years. Jan worked for General Dynamics from February 1961 until 1979 as a Master Schedules Analyst, a Support Logistics Administrative Analyst, a Logistics Contract Representative, and a Logistics Specialist. Jan said the job never changed, just the classification. John retired from the Navy on July 8, 1969, and two years later they started attending Scott Memorial Baptist Church. Here, Jan became a follower of Jesus and developed a voracious appetite for God’s Word. There would

be several additional moves from San Diego, to Salinas, to Lemoore, back to San Diego and finally returning to Lemoore in December 1992. Wherever they moved, Jan was involved in teaching and sharing God’s Word.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, grandson Kyle, and husband John. Jan is survived by son John and his wife Marcia, of Murrieta, CA; son David and his wife Mary of San Diego, CA; son Robert and his wife Carol of Orangevale, CA; son Joe and his wife Lenore of Lemoore, CA, along with 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

The Family will hold a private service with a celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3).

The family requests in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Baptist Church, Jan’s church home.

Family and Friends are invited to view Janet’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and write

condolences.