Janece Ellen Shanklin

Janece Ellen Shanklin passed away peacefully on March 13, 2024, at the age of 93, at her residence in Layton, Utah. She was loved deeply by her family and brought light and warmth into the lives of countless others.

Jan was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 21, 1930. She was raised in Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University. She had a beautiful singing voice. She excelled at music and performed in choirs and bands throughout her academic career. She had a long and successful career as an accountant until she retired from Shell Oil Company in Houston, Texas. 

She shared most of her life with her best friend, Kathy, who was truly more like a sister. They met and raised their combined families together in Bakersfield, California adding sons David and Rick Morel. Jan, Kathy, their daughter Trish, and her kids all moved and put down permanent roots with extended family in Utah in 1998.

Jan always went out of her way to care for those around her; she never let any person or animal she encountered feel unloved. She sang in the church choir, volunteered at her church (Good Shepherd Episcopal), and dedicated over 1700 hours to volunteering at Davis Hospital. She loved playing the piano and singing. She loved making things around her beautiful. Her holiday decorating and gardening skills were unmatched. She had a gift for growing beautiful rose gardens, flower beds, and towering hibiscus. She also had a love for antiques, all things frogs, the color purple, and turquoise jewelry. She was smart, sassy, funny, and loving. She was notorious for having the weirdest and silliest phrases (you eventually catch yourself using) and being mildly obsessed with crime shows like Law & Order and NCIS.

Jan was preceded in death by her best friend Kathy Morel; sister, Dede; grandmother, stepfather, and many beloved pets. Jan is survived, loved, and missed by her daughter Trisha Backus and her grandchildren Bre Shanklin (Alec), Kristta Backus (Cliff), Will Backus (Brandi), and Brandon Backus (Anna). She loved her adorable great-grandsons: Cohen, Sawyer, Bridger, and Halston (Kristta & Cliff). She will also be deeply missed by her beloved, chunky lap cat, Nacho.

No services are planned per Jan’s request. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Backus residence at 2057 S. 700 W. Syracuse, UT 84075, on March 23, 2024, at 3 p.m. All are welcome who would like to share good memories.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to your local animal rescue or Humane Society.