Janet Carol Battey

   Janet Carol Battey of Safford passed away on May 24, 2020.  She was born December 27, 1948, in Elfrida, Arizona to Denzel& Geraldean Briggs.  She was their second child and only daughter with brothers Denzel & Lawrence Briggs.  She is preceded in death by both of her parents, and her brothers, Dempie and Larry.

   Janet was blessed with 2 children Jennifer and Rory from a previous marriage and later in life, she married James Robert Battey.  She was an avid collector of antiques, was a very caring compassionate, and giving person who loved animals.  Janet was also a very proud daughter of a World War II combat veteran.

   She is survived by her children Jennifer (Ty) Farris and Rory Wilson, 4 grandchildren; Dakota, Kayla, Camryn, and Trevor, and 1 great-grandchild Jameson.

   She is preceded in death by both of her parents, and her brothers Dempie and Larry.  

   A memorial service for Janet will be held on Friday, May 29, 2020, at 2:00pm at The River Church with Pastor David Chapman presiding.

Eulogy

Janet Carol Briggs was born on December 27th to Denzel and Geraldean Briggs.  She was their only daughter and their second child.  She is preceded in death by both of her parents, and her brothers Dempie and Larry.  

She grew up on a small farm in Elfrida, Arizona, and had many precious memories of the times she spent there with her brother, Larry, and her cousins.  In particular, she had many fond childhood memories of her cousins, Loretta, and Darlene.  She was immensely proud to be the daughter of a WWII combat veteran and helped to instill a deep sense of patriotism in her children and grandchildren.  She spent some of her later years caring for her mom, who brought her joy and anger in equal measures.

My brother, Rory, and I were blessed to be able to spend her last weeks with her.  She expressed multiple times that she wanted her memorial to be held at The River, her church home and that she wanted it to be simple and understated.  If you knew Janet at all, you know that simple and understated were never really her style.  I sat behind her here in church once when she had worn this very large, very furry cape on a, particularly cold day.  I remember laughing to myself as she repeatedly flung the cape dramatically around her shoulders like a soap opera star preparing to make a grand exit.  That was the Janet we knew.

We have received many messages from people telling us what a sweet and caring woman she was, and those words could not be more true.  I can tell you without equivocation that she would have given anything she had to any member of her family.  If a friend or co-worker was hurting or in need, she would frequently be the first to reach out and offer aid or comforting words.  She was giving, caring, and had an immense capacity for compassion.  I remember watching wildlife shows with her when I was a kid and she would be moved to tears at times by the plight of the animals.  She loved babies and all animals.  That was the Janet we knew.

And, while she was loving without hesitation, she was also 10 pounds of temper in a 5 pound bag.  There’s a saying I’ve heard, “I come from a long line of terrifying women” and that was certainly true for her.  For such a small woman, she had a large reserve of anger and a remarkably short fuse.  A trait she inherited from her mother, who inherited it from her mother, and my brother would have you believe that she passed it on to me but, don’t believe him.  He’s just jealous because I turned out to be the cool one.  Nobody tested that capacity for anger more than my brother in his younger years.  I can clearly remember, as I’m sure he can, our tiny mom red in the face with anger and threatening him with physical violence of some sort or another.  But, as quick as she was to anger with him, she was just as quick to forgive.  And, that anger never changed how she felt about her family or how she treated them. That was the Janet we knew.

When we were younger, mom was generous with her home and Rory frequently had a trail of friends that needed a home.  It was not uncommon to find wayward teenage boys camping out in the living room, some of them only needed a home for a night or two and some needed a home for quite some time.  One of them is still here 27 years later so, I can’t complain.  But, no matter who they were, where they’d come from, or what they needed, she mothered them all equally and treated them as her family.  That was the Janet we knew.

She was an avid collector of random items throughout her life.  At various points, she collected carnival glass, cookie jars, antiques, and whatever else caught her fancy.  She could grow indoor plants like nobody’s business. And, she had a fondness for Schnauzers.  But, more than anything, she loved her family fiercely and proudly.  No matter what any of us did or how we failed, she was proud and willing to help in any way she could.  That was the Janet we knew.

She was our mom. And, like all people, our relationship with her had its ups and downs but, she was always our mom and we always loved her.  We will miss her tremendously and we are grateful for everyone here today to honor and remember her.  It would have made her happy.  Thank you.