Jane Griffin Dacey passed away February 1, 2019, at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, due to complications from a heart-related illness. Jane was born October 23, 1948, in Ames, Iowa, to Jack and Nina Griffin. The family established their home in Starkville the following year and it was there that Jane spent her youth and graduated from Starkville High School in 1966. She then obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in data processing and statistics from Mississippi State University. Following graduation, Jane spent several years teaching at Northeast Mississippi Community College and later moved to Jackson, where she worked for Unifirst Bank.
Jane married Robert Dacey in Boulder, Colorado on New Year’s Eve 1991. The two met as members of Mended Hearts, a national organization that supports heart patients. Jane spent the remainder of her career as an accountant for the Boulder County Health Department until her retirement in 2011. Jane generously volunteered her time with the auxiliary volunteer group at Longmont United Hospital and served as one of its board members for a number of years. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed crochet, crafting, and photography, as well as cheering on the Bulldogs in all of their athletic events. In recent years, she served as a loving caregiver for her husband until his death in October 2018.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Dacey, and her father, Jack Griffin. She is survived by her mother, Nina Ward Griffin of Starkville, her brother, Jerry (Darla) Griffin of Starkville, her sister, Nancy Undieme of Orlando, Florida, Robert’s two sons Chris Dacey of Boulder, Colorado and Patrick Dacey (Chuck Bloom) of Oregon, along with nieces and nephews and extended family members scattered across the South.
Ahlberg Funeral Chapel of Longmont, Colorado hosted a gathering of family and friends to honor Jane on February 5. Services at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville will be held on Saturday, February 9, with visitation at 1:00 and funeral service at 2:00. Reverend George Buell is the officiant. Interment will be at Memorial Garden Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jane’s honor may be made to the American Heart Association or Mended Hearts or a charity of choice.