Jan Mines, age 80, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 19, 2025. She was born in Vallejo, California in 1944 to Billie Finnegan and Robert Dority Jr. She grew up along the west coast and eventually settled in Seattle, Washington with her family where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. She attended the University of Washington where she studied languages and became fluent in French. She continued her studies in Lausanne, Switzerland. Upon her return to the United States, she settled in Boston, Massachusetts where she married Paull Mines. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French from State College at Boston and traveled along the east coast before settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she pursued a PhD in Medical Microbiology at the University of New Mexico until she started her family.

Jan taught both middle and high school math and science for over a decade in Albuquerque. She introduced her students to computers and implemented the first MESA program at the middle school level. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Math Education in 1985 and another Master of Arts in Statistics degree in 1991 from the University of New Mexico. With her second Master of Arts degree, Jan left the Albuquerque Public School system and started her second career as a Biostatistician for the University of New Mexico Medical School. She retired from the University of New Mexico Medical School in 2011.

Jan was exceptionally kind, intelligent, and talented. She studied ballet throughout her childhood. In addition to her facility with mathematics and science, Jan also had a talent for languages and was fluent in both French and Spanish. She pursued and earned a PADI Open Water Diver certification. She taught herself about plants of the southwest. She enjoyed photography. She sewed her own clothing. She loved mysteries and science fiction. She learned calligraphy in her retirement. She explored Buddhism and Tai Chi in her retirement as well. She quilted, and in her retirement, Jan crocheted amazing Afghans that were art pieces of texture and color. Each Thanksgiving, Jan hosted multiple families for Thanksgiving dinner and made sure all felt welcome in her home.

Everyone that Jan leaves behind has many memories that highlight her kindness, intelligence, talent, and dedication to family. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Dority Jr, her mother, Billie Dority, and her brother, Tim Dority. She is survived by her brother, Mike Dority, her sister-in-law Joanna Dekaban, her sister, Robin Dority, multiple cousins, her daughters, Ursula Stauber and Margaret Hornbeck, her sons-in-law, Zachary Stauber and Scott Hornbeck, and her grandchildren, Ermias and Medan Stauber. Jan was a devoted sibling, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed. The family plans on hosting a memorial service at a later date. Please contact them for details. In lieu of flowers please plant trees in honor of Jan Mines through the Arbor Day Foundation: https://shop.arborday.org/com….

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