Janice Elizabeth Beeson (Dickerson), of Bradford, Ohio, passed peacefully into the afterlife on July 22, 2026, while holding the hand of her high school sweetheart, the pilot of her life, and her devoted husband of more than 57 years, Dick.
Born in Springfield, Ohio, Jan was a proud 1965 graduate of Springfield North High School. She was the beloved daughter of Stanley and Gloria Dickerson; sister of John Dickerson (deceased) and Dale Dickerson; and a loving mother to Ricky Jr. (deceased), Julie, and Travis.
Jan devoted her life to caring for others. For 20 years, she worked with the Council on Rural Services Program, where she championed children and families through advocacy, foster care, and by opening her home to foreign exchange students. Her generous spirit extended beyond people to animals, and no stray cat or hungry creature was ever turned away if Jan was nearby.
She also had an extraordinary gift for making every season feel special. Whether it was a holiday display, a treasured Norwegian keepsake, a family heirloom, or a carefully planted wildflower, there wasn’t a corner of her home or yard that wasn’t touched by her creative spirit and love.
Jan is survived by her loving husband, Dick; her children, Julie (Mike) and Travis (Amy); her nine grandchildren, Marie, Natalie, Vincent, Ryan, Joshua, Katelyn, David, Ryan, and Emily; her cherished great-granddaughter, Alayna; countless friends near and far; and, undoubtedly, generations of grateful feline companions whose lives she made better.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, 1499 N. Broadway St., Greenville, Ohio. A funeral service will immediately follow, with a luncheon afterward before proceeding to Elkhorn Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana, for burial.
In lieu of flowers Jan has asked that donations be sent to the Miami County Animal Shelter 1110 N. County Road 25A Troy, Ohio 45373 for its general fund or its MCPAW no-kill facility non-profit. https://www.miamicountyohio.gov/donations/
Condolences for the family may be sent to www.zecharbailey.com
