Janet K. Keske Martinez, 78, of Shelbyville passed away November 12, 2024 at MHP Medical Center.
She was born April 6, 1946 in Indianapolis, IN to Jay Keske and Betty (McGraw) Keske. Soon after baby Jan was born she had an accident on her Uncle Bob and was known as Poo-Poo most of her life.
Jan was a lifetime student of the arts from grade school at St. Patrick’s Church to Manual High School studying piano and visual arts. She and her third husband, Robert Crawford, an Indiana Artist, maintained a small art studio before Jan returned to IU Indy to pursue studies in literature and creative writing. Jan won a short story writing prize in 1986 at IU Indy that led to a career publishing short stories.
Jan moved to Shelbyville to be near grandchildren and rivers and create a body of work, living there for over 30 years. While there, Jan wrote many books of fiction over the years, which are now being published at https://amazon.com/author/jkmartinez. Jan spent time as a Spiritualist medium, healer, and ordained minister who trained and practiced at the Camp Chesterfield Spiritual Center. Jan also owned and operated stores with New Age and spiritual items and her famous healing teas in Metamora and Bloomington, Indiana. She did these things while working and ultimately retiring as a director of group homes for special needs individuals.
Janet is survived by her sons, Brent Andrews and Kyle Andrews (wife, Denise); grandchildren, Amanda Bever, Alexa May, Blake Newkirk, Anthony Lugenbeal, and Andrew Lugenbeal; great-grandchildren, Elijah, Ellanor, Isabella, Allister, Mason, Lucas, Phoenix and Hailey; her sisters, Julia Voorhies and Charee Jones, along with several nieces and nephews including Beth Nicholson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Scott Andrews, her sister, Deborah Henderson, and former husbands, William Andrews, David Ferguson and Robert Crawford
Visitation will be from 1pm to 3 pm Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176.
Funeral services will follow at 3 pm at the funeral home with her nephew, Stephen Michael Werner officiating and a reception will follow for family at Cagney’s in Shelbyville.
Funeral Directors, Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Janet’s family.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the IU Simon Cancer Center GI Cancer Research Fund at GI Cancer Research Fund: Giving: My IU: Indiana University
Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com
