Janice "Beak" Arlene Crofut

It is with great sadness that the family of Janice Arlene (Beak) Crofut announces her passing at the age of 76 on May 28, 2017 after a long and hard fought battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia. Born April 1, 1941 in Massillon, Ohio she was the daughter of the late David and Ruth (Geibel) Reese. She graduated from Massillon Washington High School in 1959 and married the love of her life, Donald W. (Buzz) Crofut on June 5, 1960. She worked as a legal secretary for several Massillon attorneys including Paul Williams, John Bartholomew, Shawn Kinney and William Demsky from 1974-1991. She co-owned and operated “The Piggery” a cross stitchery shop with her sister-in-law, Carole Reese, in the 80’s. In 1991 she joined Nickles Bakery as an executive secretary and worked there until her retirement in 2006. She was a former member of the Massillon Woman’s Club and was a member of the Massillon School Board from 1982 to 1986. Beak enjoyed: cooking and baking, singing and dancing, cross-stich and ceramics, solving word searches and going to card club every month for over 50 years to play canasta and laugh with her Biddie friends. Most of all she enjoyed laughing and spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren at home and at the family cottage at Seneca Lake. Janice (Beak) will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her husband Donald (Buzz) Crofut with whom she would have celebrated 57 years of marriage on June 5, 2017; three children Michael (Mike) and his wife Diane Crofut, Lisa and her husband Jimmy Straughn and Donald (Wheat) and his wife Lynette Crofut; two brothers and sister-in-law Richard (Dick) Reese and wife Carole, and William (Bill) Reese; 4 grandchildren, Madison Straughn, Adam Crofut, Alyssa Crofut and Zachary Crofut; two aunts Betty Mathers and Phyllis Lowther and many cousins, nieces and nephews. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Keith and Nancy Paulus for being true and forever friends from the beginning and to the very end; to Beth Baum for the loving and compassionate care you gave mom while she was still at home; and to the staff at County Lawn for the compassionate care provided to mom over the past 8 months. Most of all we want to thank our dear Dad for his love and commitment to Mom. Your expression of true love was witnessed by all of us as we watched you sacrifice your interests and wants to put Mom and her needs and wishes first; it is a true testament of your everlasting love for Mom. The family will receive friends, Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 6-8pm at Paquelet Funeral Home in Massillon and 1 hour before the service at the church. A Funeral Service in the memory of Janice will be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 at Noon at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 101 Tremont Avenue S.E. Massillon, with Pastor Jean Montgomery officiating. Interment will follow at Brookfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers those who desire may make a memorial tribute in memory of Janice to the Alzheimer’s Organization. www.arnoldlynch.com Paquelet & Arnold-Lynch Funeral Home & Crematory - 330-833-3222