Jan Shirley Walker left behind a canyon she filled with love and beauty, for the rest of us to keep. On Oct. 25, the world lost this writer, artist, chef, world traveler and creative entrepreneur.
Jan was born on March 21, 1947, in Hurricane, Utah. She lived in many places including California, Guam, England, Spain, Maine and Utah.
Every place she went she did drop flowers and spread happiness to many. She exuded beauty from within, visible through her eyes, and smile and dance: a woman on fire.
Speaker of several languages and singer of an amazing library of songs ranging across all genres, her catalog of lyrics was encyclopedic. Jan loved to read and share her book finds. She took you there. Ever an avid dancer, skier, motorcycle rider, driver, train enthusiast and Formula 1 fan. She guided visitors through the canyons of Zion National Park in the summers and astonished many with her insights about bats.
She is most recently known for the Red Coyote, a café and Internet Business in Virgin, Utah, and travel consultancy. She is The Red Coyote. Her life-long love and spouse, Michael R. Marria, continues to provide internet and computer services through Red Coyote IT.
Michael and Jan enjoyed traveling to and living in England, Ireland, Italy and Oaxaca, Mexico.
Jan was the eldest daughter of Roma and Eldon Walker of Rockville, Utah. She is survived by her husband Michael R. Marria (Virgin, Utah); sister Ceil Moman (husband Comas and niece Afton); her sons Erik Donovan of La Verkin, Utah and Kalen Walker (Jennifer) of Bangor, California; her grandchildren Cody Donovan (Redding, California), Elizabeth Donovan (Marysville, California), Christina L. Shanks (Ukiah, California), Alycia Demarco (Marysville, California); and great-grandchildren Mariah Gubler (Live Oak, California), Winter Rasmussen (Kamas, Utah ), Michael Rasmussen (Heber, Utah ), Christopher Rasmussen (Kamas, Utah ), Jessie Donovan (Marysville, California), Tristan Donovan (La Verkin, Utah ), Kambria Donovan (La Verkin, Utah ) and John Donovan (Marysville, California). Jan was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Marc Walker (Rockville, Utah ), Chad Walker (Florida), and Braden Walker (Auburn, California); and most recently her eldest daughter Shelley Anna Donovan.
A Celebration of Life/Memorial will be held at the Virgin Heritage Town Square (“The Old Church”) on Friday, Nov. 10.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to donate to do so in Jan’s memory to: Hurricane Valley Food Pantry; Meals on Wheels for Washington County Area on Aging; Cancer Center of St. George, Intermountain Healthcare; or Bat Conservation International at www.batcon.org.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.