Janette Anna Lee Lansden Graves Bowden, just "Jan" to everyone, never met a person she did not befriend, found a recipe she could not improve, nor lived a day without a smile and a laugh. Jan delighted in all forms of adventure. On November 9, 2015, surrounded by her family, she embarked on her grandest journey. If there are pie crusts in Heaven, Saint Peter is in for a treat.
Born December 7, 1935, the eighth child of a Harlan County, KY coal miner, Jan learned early the importance of self-reliance and having brothers and sisters to look out for her. Her surviving brothers Carl and Hugh Lansden, and sister-in-law June Skees, fulfilled this role to the end. Jan's life-long fascination with the culinary profession had its humble origins when Jan, like all of her siblings, was conscripted by her mother Bertha to work in the family-owned L&N Restaurant in Knoxville. Her true passion was not fulfilled until many years later when, after founding one of the most successful restaurants in Avon Park, Florida, she and husband Don Bowden, rekindled the 1924 era Santa Rosa Hotel. For the next 20 years, Café 1924 was among the best restaurants in all of Florida.
While Jan had worked as a legal secretary and executive assistant, it was cooking that she truly loved. Whether veal piccata or fried okra with green tomatoes, so long as Jan cooked, the result was superb. But it was the pies – chocolate seduction, coconut cream, pecan, chess, apple, lemon, peach – that made her famous. Even Paul Newman was impressed.
Jan's smile was infectious and her kindness unrivaled. Her family was close and her friends were dear. She and Don shared a love for travel, food and wine (not always in that order). Jan was incredibly proud of daughters Mara Holley and Robin Davis, and doted on grandsons Jordan and Marshall Davis, and grand-dogs Bud and Mumford. She had more friends than ever could be recognized here.
Jan was mischievous in spirit and forever young at heart. Her passion for life extended to fast cars, card games and all manner of escapades. Whether exploring Paris by Segway, traveling to Vienna to see the Boys Choir at Christmas, or a road trip to visit family wherever they may be, Jan was "in."
For more than a decade Jan proved that cancer was no match for her indomitable spirit, so long as she had family and friends at her side. After Don passed, Jan split her time between entertaining friends in Sebring, Florida and enriching the lives of Mara and Bill Holley in Atlanta, Georgia.
As all who loved her knew, Jan hated "goodbyes" and preferred to look forward to the next visit. We look forward to that next visit, and sincerely hope that there will be pie.
In lieu of flowers, do what Jan would do – share quality time (and perhaps a glass of wine or a slice of pie) with those you love. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, FL.
Born December 7, 1935, the eighth child of a Harlan County, KY coal miner, Jan learned early the importance of self-reliance and having brothers and sisters to look out for her. Her surviving brothers Carl and Hugh Lansden, and sister-in-law June Skees, fulfilled this role to the end. Jan's life-long fascination with the culinary profession had its humble origins when Jan, like all of her siblings, was conscripted by her mother Bertha to work in the family-owned L&N Restaurant in Knoxville. Her true passion was not fulfilled until many years later when, after founding one of the most successful restaurants in Avon Park, Florida, she and husband Don Bowden, rekindled the 1924 era Santa Rosa Hotel. For the next 20 years, Café 1924 was among the best restaurants in all of Florida.
While Jan had worked as a legal secretary and executive assistant, it was cooking that she truly loved. Whether veal piccata or fried okra with green tomatoes, so long as Jan cooked, the result was superb. But it was the pies – chocolate seduction, coconut cream, pecan, chess, apple, lemon, peach – that made her famous. Even Paul Newman was impressed.
Jan's smile was infectious and her kindness unrivaled. Her family was close and her friends were dear. She and Don shared a love for travel, food and wine (not always in that order). Jan was incredibly proud of daughters Mara Holley and Robin Davis, and doted on grandsons Jordan and Marshall Davis, and grand-dogs Bud and Mumford. She had more friends than ever could be recognized here.
Jan was mischievous in spirit and forever young at heart. Her passion for life extended to fast cars, card games and all manner of escapades. Whether exploring Paris by Segway, traveling to Vienna to see the Boys Choir at Christmas, or a road trip to visit family wherever they may be, Jan was "in."
For more than a decade Jan proved that cancer was no match for her indomitable spirit, so long as she had family and friends at her side. After Don passed, Jan split her time between entertaining friends in Sebring, Florida and enriching the lives of Mara and Bill Holley in Atlanta, Georgia.
As all who loved her knew, Jan hated "goodbyes" and preferred to look forward to the next visit. We look forward to that next visit, and sincerely hope that there will be pie.
In lieu of flowers, do what Jan would do – share quality time (and perhaps a glass of wine or a slice of pie) with those you love. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, FL.
Janette Anna Lee Lansden Graves Bowden, just "Jan" to everyone, never met a person she did not befriend, found a recipe she could not improve, nor lived a day without a smile and a laugh. Jan delighted in all forms of adventure. On November 9, 2015, surrounded by her family, she embarked on her grandest journey. If there are pie crusts in Heaven, Saint Peter is in for a treat.
Born December 7, 1935, the eighth child of a Harlan County, KY coal miner, Jan learned early the importance of self-reliance and having brothers and sisters to look out for her. Her surviving brothers Carl and Hugh Lansden, and sister-in-law June Skees, fulfilled this role to the end. Jan's life-long fascination with the culinary profession had its humble origins when Jan, like all of her siblings, was conscripted by her mother Bertha to work in the family-owned L&N Restaurant in Knoxville. Her true passion was not fulfilled until many years later when, after founding one of the most successful restaurants in Avon Park, Florida, she and husband Don Bowden, rekindled the 1924 era Santa Rosa Hotel. For the next 20 years, Café 1924 was among the best restaurants in all of Florida.
While Jan had worked as a legal secretary and executive assistant, it was cooking that she truly loved. Whether veal piccata or fried okra with green tomatoes, so long as Jan cooked, the result was superb. But it was the pies – chocolate seduction, coconut cream, pecan, chess, apple, lemon, peach – that made her famous. Even Paul Newman was impressed.
Jan's smile was infectious and her kindness unrivaled. Her family was close and her friends were dear. She and Don shared a love for travel, food and wine (not always in that order). Jan was incredibly proud of daughters Mara Holley and Robin Davis, and doted on grandsons Jordan and Marshall Davis, and grand-dogs Bud and Mumford. She had more friends than ever could be recognized here.
Jan was mischievous in spirit and forever young at heart. Her passion for life extended to fast cars, card games and all manner of escapades. Whether exploring Paris by Segway, traveling to Vienna to see the Boys Choir at Christmas, or a road trip to visit family wherever they may be, Jan was "in."
For more than a decade Jan proved that cancer was no match for her indomitable spirit, so long as she had family and friends at her side. After Don passed, Jan split her time between entertaining friends in Sebring, Florida and enriching the lives of Mara and Bill Holley in Atlanta, Georgia.
As all who loved her knew, Jan hated "goodbyes" and preferred to look forward to the next visit. We look forward to that next visit, and sincerely hope that there will be pie.
In lieu of flowers, do what Jan would do – share quality time (and perhaps a glass of wine or a slice of pie) with those you love. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, FL.
Born December 7, 1935, the eighth child of a Harlan County, KY coal miner, Jan learned early the importance of self-reliance and having brothers and sisters to look out for her. Her surviving brothers Carl and Hugh Lansden, and sister-in-law June Skees, fulfilled this role to the end. Jan's life-long fascination with the culinary profession had its humble origins when Jan, like all of her siblings, was conscripted by her mother Bertha to work in the family-owned L&N Restaurant in Knoxville. Her true passion was not fulfilled until many years later when, after founding one of the most successful restaurants in Avon Park, Florida, she and husband Don Bowden, rekindled the 1924 era Santa Rosa Hotel. For the next 20 years, Café 1924 was among the best restaurants in all of Florida.
While Jan had worked as a legal secretary and executive assistant, it was cooking that she truly loved. Whether veal piccata or fried okra with green tomatoes, so long as Jan cooked, the result was superb. But it was the pies – chocolate seduction, coconut cream, pecan, chess, apple, lemon, peach – that made her famous. Even Paul Newman was impressed.
Jan's smile was infectious and her kindness unrivaled. Her family was close and her friends were dear. She and Don shared a love for travel, food and wine (not always in that order). Jan was incredibly proud of daughters Mara Holley and Robin Davis, and doted on grandsons Jordan and Marshall Davis, and grand-dogs Bud and Mumford. She had more friends than ever could be recognized here.
Jan was mischievous in spirit and forever young at heart. Her passion for life extended to fast cars, card games and all manner of escapades. Whether exploring Paris by Segway, traveling to Vienna to see the Boys Choir at Christmas, or a road trip to visit family wherever they may be, Jan was "in."
For more than a decade Jan proved that cancer was no match for her indomitable spirit, so long as she had family and friends at her side. After Don passed, Jan split her time between entertaining friends in Sebring, Florida and enriching the lives of Mara and Bill Holley in Atlanta, Georgia.
As all who loved her knew, Jan hated "goodbyes" and preferred to look forward to the next visit. We look forward to that next visit, and sincerely hope that there will be pie.
In lieu of flowers, do what Jan would do – share quality time (and perhaps a glass of wine or a slice of pie) with those you love. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 5th at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, FL.
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