Janet Locke Dukes

Janet (Jan) Locke Grant Mayer Dukes, 75, of Rolling Hills in Madera, passed away on May 28, 2022. Jan was born on December 13, 1946 in Queens, New York. She is survived by her husband George L. Dukes who said 21 years ago, “When her heart found him…he knew”; along with her sweet dog Noodles.

She and her mother, Helene Berenice Kozicka (Grant), moved to Southern California when Jan was a young girl at which time she was raised by her mother and stepfather John Langdon. Jan would go on to graduate from Clovis High School in 1965.

Jan loved helping people and in doing so held various administrative jobs throughout her working career, including Dow Chemical, John Frank Mitchel Engineering, The Salvation Army and Wildwood Pools to name a few. One of her first jobs was as “The Head Carhop” during the night shift at Bob’s Big Boy in Fresno, where she met her first boyfriend and lifelong friend Speed Thomas.

Jan’s first marriage to Stanley Mayer brought her the joy of two stepsons, Kevin (Debbie) and Michael (Laura) Mayer; and Grandchildren Brandon, Courtney, Preston and Emily Mayer.
With her loving marriage to George, her family grew to include stepsons Stacy (Angelica), Danny and late Jimmy Dukes; Stepdaughter Stormie (Derek) Winslow; Grandchildren Natasha Dukes, Harrison and Delaney Winslow; and Great-Grandchildren Aaron and Jordyn Lindsey.

Jan was very close to her cousin Patricia Dearing and the Pollack Family of Louisiana. She loved her “Ya-Ya Sisters” Joyce (Cliff) Mosley and Jerre (Don) Akins, always looking forward to their crazy-filled luncheons and fashionable hats. Neighbors Brandon, Tina and their children Sara, Stefan and Sammy Sidur were very special to Jan’s heart.

Jan had a special way of lighting up any room she walked into and much like her husband; she never met a stranger who didn’t quickly become a friend. Jan lived to make her loved ones smile with her quick-witted and often dirty sense of humor and would share jokes and stories with anyone who was sure to eagerly listen. She had an affinity for collecting antiques that she’d call her ‘pretties’ and would regularly send George out on weekends with a hand-written list of that weekend’s treasures he was to acquire at the local estate sales. Truth is, Jan was our pretty treasure, and we are all fortunate to have had her in our lives. She will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022 from 3:00 pm-7:00 pm at Jay Chapel,1121 Roberts Ave. Madera, CA 93637.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:00 am at Jay Chapel, followed by graveside services at adjacent Arbor Vitae Cemetery,1301 Roberts Ave. Madera, CA 93637.