Janet Gavin Obituary

Janet Marie "Susie" Williams Gavin, 92, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Marion General Health Hospital. She was born in Swayzee, Indiana, on June 11, 1932, to Clyde and Cecile Loer Williams.

Susie graduated from Swayzee High School in 1950. She was a proud drum majorette in the marching band, cheerleader and basketball queen.

After graduating, Susie worked in the Marion office of RCA. Upon her marriage to Richard Gavin in 1953, they farmed together for nearly thirty years. During those years, she drove tractors, hauled grain, fed cattle and hogs, carried bales of hay and straw in each hand, and brought meals to the field. Susie later was employed as a teller by Grant County State Bank in Swayzee, where she retired after 20 years.

Susie was a member of the Jones Chapel Church, where she played the organ for over sixty years. She was also an active volunteer in the church helping prepare funeral dinners and participating with fundraising efforts. She was known for her legendary home-made caramel candies.

Susie was a woman of many talents. She was an accomplished pianist even though she never had a single piano lesson. She had the ability to listen to a song, regardless of its genre, and then replicate it on the piano, much to the delight and amazement of her children and grandchildren. Susie loved to garden and grow flowers. She was a superb seamstress and made the wedding dresses, prom dresses and outfits of her daughters when they were young. Susie had a special affinity for mathematics of any kind, and could complete sudoko puzzles in record time. In her later years, she became an accomplished dancer, and enjoyed ballroom dancing. Susie had a passion for cooking and baking for her family and friends. She was an avid reader. Susie was adored by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her daughters, JoLynn Gavin and Pam Gavin; granddaughters, Loreal Gavin and Caitlin Brunson; and her extended family, including numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Gavin; son, James Gavin; daughter, Tanya Gavin; sisters, Juanita Comer, Mary Powell, Naomi Brewer Porter, Donna Scott, Faye Williams and Joan Shellen; brothers, Lester Boswell, Willis Boswell, Malcolm Williams and Tence Williams; and special friend, Ed Pirl.

The family will receive visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Armes-Hunt Funeral Home, 415 S. Main Street, Fairmount, Indiana. Immediately following the visitation, a service to celebrate Susie's life will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Joe Seaborn officiating. Burial will take place at Knox Chapel Cemetery in Point Isabel.

Memorial contributions may be made in Susie's memory to United Cerebral Palsy, 8401 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, Virginia, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.