Olive Janice “Jan” Mecaskey

Olive Janice “Jan” Mecaskey, 95, passed away Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

Jan will lie in state beginning Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, from noon to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. The family will receive friends from 5 to7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle. There will be a time of fellowship and remembrances on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in the Fellowship Hall of Panhandle First Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, her memory may be honored with a gift to the First Methodist Church, PO Box 549, Panhandle, TX 79068 or to the Panhandle Inn Foundation, PO Box 550, Panhandle, TX 79068.

Jan was born Nov. 6, 1929, in Panhandle, to Teresa Sue Harrison Caldwell and Clarence Albert Caldwell. She was a gifted artist who enjoyed painting and drawing. Jan was a talented seamstress and often made Halloween costumes for her grandchildren. Nothing brought more joy to her life than her family, especially being called Janma.

Her adventurous career path started as telephone switchboard operator until her interest turned to the medical field where she was a medical assistant for Dr. Roberts and even helped deliver several babies. Then she attended West Texas and was a sweater girl, a feat she was extremely proud of. She married Raymond Gose Mecaskey on Nov. 6, 1952, in Panhandle. After their union, Jan became a homemaker, however her adventures did not stop. She then turned her eye to building things like her garage and various walls in their home. Not only did she build those things, but she had a keen eye for décor and enjoyed wallpapering, painting, refinishing furniture and landscaping. After she raised her family, she went back to work as a paraprofessional in special education for Highland Park.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Teresa and Albert Caldwell; husband, Raymond Mecaskey; brother, Harrison Caldwell; and sisters, Dorothy Jean Knierihm, Leah Faye Walker, and Helen Katherine Mans.

Survivors include her son, Max Mecaskey and wife Shari of Amarillo; daughters, Lana and husband Ed Boland and Pennie and husband David Lanier, all of Panhandle; five grandchildren, Bryce Hanson, Ashley and husband William Fowler, Mitch Boland, Gregg Ward and wife Patricia, Victoria Ward, Alexandrea Ward; and great-grandchildren, Liam Ward, Abby Ward, Brynlee Boland, Weston Fowler and Erin Priebe; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family.