Jan Crase

Mrs. Jan Crase, 72, of Somerset, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, September 28, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.

She was born in Summer Shade, Kentucky on July 11, 1938, daughter of the late Seymore and Ruby Smith Hunley. She was a member of Somerset First Presbyterian Church. She attended Berea College and graduated from University of Louisville with a degree in Home Economics with emphasis in Dietetics.

Jan was the first female in Kentucky to pass Series I examination for the Member of Appraisal Institute designation. She became a licensed Real Estate Broker in Kentucky where she did appraisals and feasibility studies in fifteen Kentucky Counties. She owned and operated a Somerset insurance agency successfully for ten years.

She was a home agent with the University of Kentucky Extension Service where she worked in Louisville and Jefferson County with both 4-H and homemaker programs. She developed the first 4-H clubs in inner city schools in the nation. She was a chief therapeutic dietitian at Baptist Hospital in Louisville and instructor of dietetics and nutrition at Louisville Baptist School of Nursing.

She was previously a member with Berea College Board of Trustees, Berea College President's Club, Founder's Club, Kentucky Medical Association Education Committee as a non-physician member, former president of Kentucky Medical Association Alliance Board of Directors, chairman of Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum Advisory Board member, where she helped establish the museum, 5th District Steering Committee and also a member of local UNITE organization, lifetime member and former president of Lake Cumberland Performing Arts Advisory Board, former president of Pulaski County Medical Alliance, first president of Pulaski County Lincoln Club and member of Pulaski Republican Women's Club.

Her prior civic activities include chairman of Berea College President's Council, Berea College Alumni Co-chairman for Alumni fundraising, Kentucky Medical Association Legislative Committee as a non-physician member, Kentucky GED Foundation chairman, Kentucky Foundation for Adult Education chairman, Southern Medical Association Auxiliary Medical Heritage Councilor for Kentucky, Master Musician Festival Board of Directors member, Pulaski County Extension Service Advisory Council member, Somerset/Pulaski County Economic Development Board member, Somerset/Pulaski County Convention and Visitor's Bureau Board chairman, Somerset Community College Development Board member, started the first preschool in Pulaski County at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in 1970, Somerset Cooperative Preschool Board of Directors member for many years, Sunday School teacher at Somerset First Presbyterian Church for twelve years, Co-director of Somerset First Presbyterian Church youth group for many years, Somerset First Presbyterian Church Elder, United Way Board of Directors and Appropriations Committee chairman and PTA board member.

Special awards Jan received were Kentucky Medical Association 2010 Layperson of the Year, 2005 Special Appreciation Award from Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Commission of Women, an award for endeavors to promote, educate and advise women of the Commonwealth and Somerset Business and Professional Women's Club, "Woman of Achievement in Business".

She is survived by her husband, James D. Crase, M.D. of Somerset, one son, Karl & (Melissa) Crase of Richmond, KY, two daughters, Kim & (Joe) Claytor of Berea, KY and Katherine Crase of Tampa, FL, one brother, Jerry Hunley of Louisville, KY and four grandchildren, Laura and Neil Claytor and Jonathon and Amelia Crase.

Visitation will be from 5 PM to 9 PM Thursday at Somerset First Presbyterian Church.

A funeral service will be held at 1 PM Friday, October 1, 2010 at Somerset First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Allen Brimer officiating.

Burial will be in Lakeside Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of Sympathy may be made to the Somerset First Presbyterian Church Capital Fund or Berea College.

Pulaski Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.