Janis Kight of Frankfort passed peacefully in her sleep at her home the morning of March 10, 2022. Born on December 1, 1932, she was the second of seven children to Kenneth and Mercedes (Campbell) Smith. Mom experienced a lifetime of 88 summers which were not nearly enough for her four children, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Mom truly loved all her family. But in her own way, she had a priority order that we all humorously accepted. First in line were her great-grandchildren and grandchildren followed by her siblings. Next were her beloved parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Then came her children and their current spouses.
Mom was in her element when recalling details of happy times spent long ago with family and friends, including summers with Cousin Patra on their grandparents’ farm near Clarks Hill; her nomadic Smith family life with so many siblings; her school days (and dear friends from then to today such as Colleen Young and Judy Kirkpatrick McKinney); and every one of the more than 25 different places she lived during her life (all but one in Clinton County). She often said her favorite home was the Dick and Joan Carter farmstead on the Manson-Colfax blacktop. There she could shoo her children outside to play amongst the fields and barns whenever As the World Turns, The Guiding Light and Search for Tomorrow soap operas came on TV—and where she taught herself how to preserve awesome crabapple and strawberry jellies and delicious bread-and-butter pickles.
Such touchstones from her past kept her memory sharp and engaging with anyone who asked. True to her conservative nature, she was especially proud saying that a drop of alcohol never touched her lips. No one ever told her that the company holiday party oranges she raved about were infused with vodka or the glass of ‘Mom, it’s just grape juice’ she drank at weddings was really a nice Chardonnay.
Janis retired from Federal Mogul in Frankfort after serving over 30 years. She is survived by her children: Greg (Becky) Finch of Carmel; Dianne (Richard) Golder of Lafayette; KC Cupp and Suzy Morgan, both of Frankfort. Also surviving are her grandchildren in order of arrival: Tanisha Ramos; Eric Cupp; Raymond Golder; Josh Golder; John (Haley) Finch; Nicholas (Taylor) Golder; Brenton (Samantha) Morgan; Kyle (Stephanie) Cupp; Traci Cupp; and great grandchildren Olivia, Owen, Teagan, Weylyn, Natalia, Kaden, JoJo, Adley, Addilyn, and Zoë.
Three of Mom’s wonderful sisters also survive: Karen Boggs and Jill (Jack) Allen of Lebanon, Indiana and Perrine (Fred) Pulis of Virginia. Also surviving is dear sister-in-law Rose Smith of Texas and amazing brother-in-law L.D. Baird of Oklahoma. Preceding Mom’s passing were her parents and sisters Marianne Babbs and Kaye Baird and little brother Phil Smith.
Her children especially want to thank the kindness and generosity of our Great(est) Aunt Zuddie Redman and Great(est) Uncle Bill Campbell who meant so very much to Mom and to us.
Respecting her wishes, no funeral services will be held. If her children can ever decide on a date and place, a celebration of Mom’s life will happen when it is warm outside, without Covid restrictions and you will be invited. Her children will prepare and share Mom’s famous recipes for hard-as-hockey-puck hamburgers covered with DelMonte Catsup between slices of Wonder Bread; cold pork-and-beans direct from the can; thin chili soup with way too much macaroni; ham salad made of ground bologna, her pickles, and a dash of peanut butter; overcooked green beans garnished with one tiny strip of boiled bacon served in Mom’s yellow Fiestaware dish; gawd-awful instant coffee; diabetes-inducing sweet tea; and her indescribably delicious chocolate Texas sheet cake. If you come, what dishes will you bring and stories will you share? Memorial Donations may be made in Janis’s honor to the Autism Society of Indiana, 1800 N. Meridian St. #103B, Indianapolis, IN 46202 or the Downs Syndrome Association Northwest Indiana, 2167 Indianapolis Blvd, Shererville, IN 46375. Archer-Weston Funeral & Cremation Center is honored to assist the Ms. Kight’s family. Please visit archerweston.com where you may leave a condolence or share a memory with Janis’s family.