Jan Elizabeth Stephens Cathcart was born on January 28,1956 in Wichita, KS and was the first daughter in her family of seven siblings to Gayle and E.J. Stephens. She graduated from North High School in 1974 and attended Colorado College graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1978 with a B.A. in French and Spanish studies. Jan also enjoyed being a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority where she developed life long friendships.

Summit County, CO became her home for several years after college where she continued to create rich, lasting friendships through her work at the Snake River Saloon, Copper Mountain Golf Course, and as a travel agent. She became an avid skier, summertime hiker, and fell in love with golf. Music was another passion of Jan’s- playing piano in her childhood years and enjoying many concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheater with friends and family.

On April 6,1991 Jan married Dan Cathcart and then gave birth to their daughter, Savannah Strawn Cathcart Murphy, on November 9, 1994 in Chicago, IL. They returned to Colorado Springs, CO in 1997 and remained there for many years as their family home, in addition to spending  summers at the Cathcart family ranch in Cody, WY.

Her charm, intelligence, wit, and sarcasm will be greatly missed, as well as, her deep and generous love for her family and friends. Her beauty was marked by her beautiful blue eyes, warm smile, and ability to be a true confidant in her many friendships.

After struggling with depression and addiction, she passed away on June 30th, 2024 in Dillon, CO surrounded by family and a few close friends in the mountains she knew well and loved. Jan is preceded in death by her parents, G.Gayle and E.J. Stephens, and her brother, Joel Kent Stephens. She is survived by her daughter, Savannah Cathcart Murphy, son-in-law, Joe Murphy, and grandson, Grant Murphy, Cody, WY, step-daughter, Danielle Cathcart Nichols, son-in-law, Dan Nichols, Colo. Spgs, CO, and her siblings, Lynn Stephens and Scott Stephens, Birmingham, AL, Julie Stephens, Dillon, CO, Ken Stephens, Altadena, CA, and Jean Stephens Lehman, Seattle, WA, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and in-laws from the Stephens and Cathcart families.

A celebration of life memorial will be planned in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Commonspirit Home Health Bristlecone in Frisco, CO. www.mountain.commonspirit.org

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