Janette Osborne

Janette “Jan” Kay (Measles) Osborne of Durango, Colo., died at age fifty December 3, 2011, outside of Silverton, Colo., in a plane crash with her also late husband Stephen “Steve” West Osborne and two others, Gena Rych and Tyler Black. Janette was born October 9, 1961, in Pueblo, Colo.

Jan was the fourth of six children born to John L. and Helen M. Medill. She was raised in Pueblo, Colo., on the family ranch, where she became an expert horsewoman, and where her love of animals and appreciation for the simple things in life first took root. After graduating from Pueblo County High School in 1980, Jan married Tony W. Measles. The couple had two sons: Travis W. and Colton W. Measles. Jan and her family moved to Durango in 1984 where she was a stay-at-home mom and home schooled her two boys, making their lives her focus for years. Jan then obtained her realtor's license and became a successful realtor with The Wells Group and later with Gallant Realty in Durango. In 2002, Jan and Tony divorced, and Jan met and fell in love with Steve Osborne.

Jan and Steve shared a mutual love of life and community. A social butterfly and self confessed people watcher, Jan's energetic view of life motivated her to join several community organizations, including the High Noon Rotary Club, Community Service Committee for Durango Realtors, Durango Area Association of Realtors (DAAR), Founding Board of The Professional Women of Building, and numerous other organizations. Jan was a breast cancer survivor and active in the local breast cancer society, where she was one of its favorite members.

She and Steve also shared a love of flying. Steve was a veteran pilot, and anyone who was fortunate enough to have flown with them could see the fearless exhilaration they shared while in the air together. Jan and Steve took countless trips together, Steve always at the controls, Jan by his side. Mexico was a favored destination, as well as the oft-visited Lake Powell. Steve and Jan were “Lake People” and their favorite people were always invited to this favored place of theirs where some of the best memories of their all too short lives were made. Steve and Jan's love for friends enabled them to host many of them on their house boat in Lake Powell, not just few, and anyone invited was sure to experience the hospitality and warmth that only Jan and Steve could provide.

Jan's interests in life were varied, and she made sure to live her life in many different directions. First and foremost, she was a doting, exceptional mother to her two sons Trav and Colt, a loving aunt, daughter, sister, wife, an avid gardener, a lover of all things beautiful, a true friend. Jan was fiercely loyal, outspoken, wise, compassionate, the consummate hostess, and an amateur interior designer as evidenced by the home she and Steve shared - this list is could go on as long as there are words in the dictionary for good, wonderful, beautiful, and kind.

Jan was and always will be a cherished member of the Durango community, and in the hearts and minds of her family and close friends. She is an inspiration to all on how to enjoy life with courage, determination and most of all grace.

Jan is joined in death by her husband Steve Osborne and preceded in death by her father John L. Medill, Jr. Jan is survived by her sons Travis W. Measles, 28 (Durango), Colton W. Measles 24 (Durango), her mother Helen M. Medill 82 (Durango), brother J. Arthur Medill 58 (Pueblo, Colo.), Patricia A. Cuff 55 (Fountain), Richard C. Medill 54 (Pueblo, Colo.), Kathleen “Kitty” Howery 47 (Pueblo, Colo.) and Christine Payne 45 (Strasburg, Colo.) and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Jan Osborne Memorial Fund, which will be used to support local Durango charities and aid in the planning of the celebration of her and Stephen Osborne’s lives; to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 2011, at the Fort Lewis College gymnasium, and to which all members of the Durango community are invited and welcomed.