Jan Crane, 42, died before dawn on Sept. 3, after a two-year battle with cancer. She was able to say goodbye to her husband, Kevin, children Sean, 12 and Shannon, 9, and best friend, Beth.
Crane was born on May 21, 1961 in Brownsville, Texas. She moved with her family to North Carolina when she was 6 years old. There, she attended Gaston Day School, spending much of her time after school with her beloved horses. She grew into an accomplished equestrian, taking home scores of ribbons and trophies in hunting and jumping competitions.
Crane attended Pepperdine University, studying photojournalism and graduating in 1983. While at Pepperdine, she developed a lifelong affection for the university and its athletic teams.
While in college, she met Pepperdine alumnus Kevin Crane, whom she married in 1990.
An avid photographer who seldom left home without her camera, Crane once worked for The Orange County Register, and her pictures appeared frequently in The Malibu Times. Her license plate read: “Eyes For Bu.”
Crane was a regular at her children’s athletic events at Our Lady of Malibu School, offering encouragement to all and making sure there were plenty of pictures available to the other children and parents. Jan and Kevin have been a fixture at every school function, even through her illness.
A certified scuba diver, Crane developed an affinity for sea life and the ocean. She had a special affection for Maui, where her family has a waterfront home. Nothing gave her more inner peace than watching the sun slowly set while sitting on a Maui beach with her friends and family. She even requested Hawaiian flowers and music at her funeral.
On a still evening before she died, Crane reflected on her life and what made her the most joyful. Beside her bed she wrote neatly on note cards:
What I Love:
Kids
Family
Wonderful Friends
Animals
Nature
Photography
Sunsets
Pepperdine Friends
Pepperdine Basketball
Anaheim Angels
Maui
Sea Life
Crane is survived by her husband and two children; her mother, Kathryn; her brother, Jon Segal; and six nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady
of Malibu Catholic Church. Internment services will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar. Hawaiian attire is requested.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. John’s Hospital, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404; Our Lady of Malibu School, 3625 Winter Canyon Rd., Malibu, CA 90265; or the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica.