Janet Brown Dovel

Age 72, Elkton, Va.

Janet Brown Dovel, 72, of Elkton, passed away on November 13, 2023. She was born December 7, 1950 in Columbia, Tenn., and was the daughter of the late Joe Anderson and Dorothy Ring Brown.

When Janet was young, her family moved from Tennessee to Winchester, Va., where she attended and graduated from James Wood High School in 1968. It was at the Winchester Speedway where she met the future love of her life, Ray. After several years, love won and Janet agreed to move to Ray’s hometown of Elkton. On April 11, 1980, they were married in Hagerstown, Md. 

 Janet worked as a dental assistant for years. In 1978, Janet began working at Merck & Co., Inc. as a chemical operator. She was a member of the International Chemical Workers Union, and during the last decade of her career, she worked in the powerhouse where she obtained her boiler operator license. She loved her job and cherished the friendships she made at Merck. In 2013, Janet retired after 35 years at the plant. 

 Janet was a faithful member of the Shenandoah Assembly of God Church. She enjoyed attending Billy Graham’s crusades, traveling with close friends to see him minister in New York, Sacramento, and San Antonio just to name a few. She also traveled with friends and family to the revival at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Fla. Janet loved God and sought any chance she could to experience Him move in wondrous ways.   

 Janet was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother, spending as much time she could with her family. She loved vacations to the beach, trips to Springfield, Mo., where her children attended college, and traveling to AKC redbone hunts with Ray. Long before grandchildren were on the horizon, she selected her ‘grandmother’ name, stating she wanted to be called Nana Janet because it would be easy for the babies to say. Her grandsons became the light of her life. 

 Janet had many interests and especially enjoyed real estate, collecting P. Buckley Moss art, and Motown music. After their retirement, she and her husband owned and operated Pleasant View Farm in Elkton.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ray, who passed on March 15, 2021.

Janet is survived by her daughter, Dana Keyes and husband, Carey of Elkton; son Ryan Dovel and wife, Nikki of Harrisonburg; brother Michael Brown and wife, Kathy of Waynesboro; grandsons Cooper Keyes, Brenton Keyes and Isaiah Dovel; nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends whom she loved dearly. 

There will be no viewing, but friends may sign the guestbook at Kyger Funeral Home in Elkton.

A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 19, 2023 at the Shenandoah Assembly of God Church at 311 Comertown Road in Shenandoah, with Pastor Carter Dean officiating.  Burial will be private at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Elkton.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Janet’s memory may be given to the Shenandoah Assembly of God, 311 Comertown Road, Shenandoah, VA 22849. 

 Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Whitney Knight, her incredible staff at Bellaire at Stone Port – Memory Care, and Gentiva Hospice for their professionalism, compassion and care for our mom during her illness.