Obituary
Janet Anne Medley was born Nov. 5, 1942, as Sidney and Mary Ethel Gelb’s “good luck” baby – arriving the day Sidney was first elected judge of Knox County Superior Court. She was one of 5 children and is survived by her sisters and brothers – Susan Duffey, Kathy Gulley, Sam Gelb, and David Gelb, along with countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members who love her dearly.
Janet was raised in Vincennes, Ind., where she met her high school sweetheart, Morris Medley. Janet and Morris began dating on Sept. 1, 1958, married in 1962, and rarely spent days apart. Favoring quality over quantity, they had one child, Cindy Crouch, and one grandchild, Kristin Cutler. Their small family became whole when Cindy and Kristin found their perfect matches and Sarah Harrell, Tim Crouch, and Brandon Crouch joined the club. Janet worked at the Indiana State Univ. bookstore and later became a real estate agent. Janet and Morris lived and worked in Indiana for many years, cherishing their vacations to Florida. Janet and Morris achieved their goal of one day retiring to Florida when they moved to The Villages in 2004.Janet was an avid tennis player, and made many lifelong friends on the court. In addition to playing tennis three times weekly, Janet loved playing pickleball and mahjong. She could be found most evenings watching British TV shows at home with Morris. She loved movies, especially happy ones, and once declared Mamma Mia to be Meryl Streep’s greatest work.
Many positive traits can be attributed to Janet, but above all, she will be remembered for her kindness. Janet was a remarkable mother and grandmother, always telling Cindy and Kristin how much they were loved and how proud she was of them. She and Morris were an unmatchable team – Janet always anticipated his needs, and cared for him in the most thoughtful and loving way. Janet’s love of Christmas – particularly decorating – has been passed on to her girls, who will carry on her legacy for years to come. Dozens of trips to Walt Disney World will forever be cherished by her family, who plan to ride Soarin’ and Living with the Land in her honor regularly.
Janet spent the entirety of Jan. 10, 2019, with her favorite person on the planet, Morris Medley. On Jan. 11, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, with her favorite Carole King song playing in the background. You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face, and show the world all the love in your heart.
A celebration of life will be held for family at a later date.
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