Janet Mary Shaughnessy Caffey

Janet Mary Shaughnessy Caffey, born to Sidney James Shaughnessy and Grace Olive Ellis in Barry Isles, South Wales, United Kingdom, on August 17th 1945, grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and Lubbock, Texas. She attended Monterey High School and Texas Tech University, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English. Janet began her teaching career in 1968 in Plainview, and went on to teach secondary English and French for LISD at Coronado High School until she retired in 2001 and joined the Lubbock Retired Teachers Association. Her wit and humor ignited her classroom (literally–there was a fire once) and her attention to detail ensured no element was missed. As a dedicated member of the League of Women Voters, Texas Democratic Women, and Tejano Democrats, she passionately volunteered as much of her time as she could give to inform and empower anyone she could reach. As a mother, there wasn’t a moment when she wasn’t helping, loving, nurturing, rearing, modeling, comforting, admonishing, or teaching us, and that has molded us into who we are today. She was the most loyal person any of us have ever known, and her tireless devotion to the “underdog,” whoever it may have been, serves as a shining example to those who’ve survived her. It is her legacy.She is survived by her two children, Kenneth (her “favorite”) and Elizabeth (the other offspring), her loving husband of 46 years, Richard, her three sisters, Linda, Diane, and Sydney, and her two beloved grandchildren, Aiden and Graham, for whom there was no better playmate. They lovingly call her “crazy Nana,” and shout out “Hi Nana” at the sky anytime a plane flies overhead. For those who had the privilege of knowing “Lil ol’ Jan,” her spirit will never fade.In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Lubbock County Democratic Party HQ, 2809 74th Street, Lubbock, Texas, 79423.