Janice “Jan” Kay Osborn, 69, of Howard, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10, 2025, in Eureka. Born May 2, 1955, in Kansas City, Kan., to John and Betty (Sweaney) Layton, Jan’s early life was marked by the adventures of a family that moved frequently due to her father’s work with the Santa Fe Railroad. She attended first grade in Virgil, Kansas, before settling in Howard, where she graduated from North Elk High School with the class of 1973. Following high school, she attended Independence Community College for a semester.
Jan’s life was enriched by love and family. She was married to David Blex, and later to Steve Gerkin, with whom she shared many years and lovingly raised his son, Joe Gerkin, as her own. Following Steve’s passing in 2000, Jan married Jim Osborn, who predeceased her in 2008. In recent years, she found companionship with her boyfriend, Bill Divine.
