Montezuma - Janet Kay Schmidt Cummings was born on September 15, 1958 in Dodge City, Kansas, to Dale and Nadine Schmidt. She left this life for a better one in the morning hours of February 15, 2018.

Jan grew up on a farm 12 miles north of Plains, Kansas. She enjoyed her school days attending Plains Public Schools from kindergarten to eighth grade, and attended her freshman year at Southwestern Heights. Her family moved to the Montezuma area in 1973 to the home place of her grandparents, Walter and Della Schmidt. She worked for a short time as a helper in the kitchen of Bethel Home before working as a secretary at the MUA office for 7 ½ years. She wrote a local news column in the Montezuma Press since 1991.

A special time in Jan's life was when she chose to be a Christian and gave her heart to God. She was baptized on March 7, 1971 by Daniel J. Koehn, remaining faithful to her vows until the end. On May 24, 1981, she and Mike Cummings were married at the Montezuma Mennonite Church. To this union was born one son, Weston.

Jan gave God the praise for helping her face her health issues and the heartbreak of losing her Dad in January of 2014 and her brother Jeff in September of the same year. She was diagnosed at a young age with muscular dystrophy and also suffered from diabetes.

In 2012, Mom moved to a Bethel Home apartment, having some wonderful caregivers, Rosemary Jantzen and Esther Jantzen, who she loved and appreciated. We, as a family, will always be grateful for their love and care. She enjoyed having her Dad come to have break with her in the mornings, and it meant a lot to her.

One of Mom's favorite pastimes was watching the birds that came to their backyard feeders. They had a pair of cardinals for many years. Migrating season was especially interesting, bringing a variety of birds that one does not normally see, providing hours of entertainment. Fishing trips to Colorado with her grandparents and family were a highlight to her.

Mom was a kind, gentle, and caring person. She was a peacemaker in the true sense of the word. She thought of others, and wrote and sent many cards. Mom prayed often for family and others. A happy time in her life was when Weston married Sharon and was blessed with four grandchildren, who were a bright spot in her life.

Those left to cherish precious memories are her husband Mike; one son, Weston and wife Sharon, grandchildren; Jenna, Cade, Jamin, and Mason, Fleetwood, Pennsylvania; mother, Nadine Schmidt; two sisters: Janae and husband Michael Esau, and Gina and husband Calvin Koehn, all of Montezuma, Kansas; sisters-in-law: Sidney Presley, Bixby, Oklahoma and Beth Millan, Larned, Kansas, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Dale; her brother, Jeff; her parents-in-law, Dale and Frances Cummings; and brother-in-law, Jim Blackard.

Funeral service will be held at Homeland Mennonite Church, Montezuma on Sunday February 18, 2018 at 10:30 AM with Ministers Luther Smith, Lyndon Toews, and Donnie Koehn presiding. Burial will follow at Homeland Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Montezuma on Saturday February 17, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com .