Janith "Jan" Clare Baird

Janith “Jan” Clare (Lindley) Baird, 83, of Kokomo, passed away 1:42 am Sunday January 25, 2026, at St. Vincent 86th Street Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. She was born in Kokomo, IN, on June 22, 1942, the daughter of the late Herman and Beulah (Carow) Lindley. Her life companion is Davey Mendez. They shared more than 30 years together, and he survives.

Jan was a 1960 graduate of Western High School. She formerly worked at Delco Electronics and at the Howard County Sherriff’s Department for 3 years as a matron. Her career was spent serving the City of Kokomo as clerk, secretary, foreman, lab technician, officer manager, and inventory. She retired after 38 years of service. Jan will be remembered for being the most caring and generous lady. She was a social butterfly who never met a stranger. Her favorite hobbies were camping, fishing, baking, and sewing. She was very creative and often wrote poetry and short stories. Jan was the best caretaker of her family and everybody she crossed paths with.

In addition to her companion Davey, Jan is survived by her daughter, Dawn Scircle; grandson, Michael (Ashley) Scircle; great-grandson, Emmett Scircle; bonus children, Judy Bowlin, Daniel Mendez; bonus grandchildren, AJ Bowlin, Zack Bowlin, David Bowlin; several nieces and nephews; a large extended family of her significant other’s who she considered as her own family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Frances Lindley, Thomas Lindley, Carol (James) Bowlin; and grandchildren, Nick Bowlin, Tevan Mendez.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 7 pm Friday January 30, 2026, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, IN 46902. A funeral service will begin at 10 am Saturday January 31, 2026, at the funeral home with Rev. Fr. Peter Vanderkolk, the celebrant. Burial will follow in Crown Point Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Jan’s memory to the Veteran’s Association of America, Inc. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

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